Earthshine [Paperback]

Theresa Nelson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1996

Slim's father, a charismatic actor named Mack, is dying of AIDS.  Slim and
Mack's companion, Larry, help care for Mack.  Soon Slim joins a support group
for family members who live with people who have AIDS.  There she meets Isaiah,
who believes their parents can be cured by the Miracle Man in the "Hungry
Valley" north of Los Angeles.  Slim believes only what she sees: that her
father and others are dying and no one is trying to stop it.   But Isaiah's
faith in miracles rubs off on Slim, and with their family and friends they
journey into the mountains to find their own moment of magic.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Twelve-year-old Slim hopes for a miracle cure for her father, who has AIDS. In a starred review, PW praised the "honest and sometimes sassy" first-person narration and said that the pacing "allows the reader to share in, rather than be bombarded by, heartbreaking moments." Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-Twelve-year-old Slim's father, Mack, is dying of AIDS, which seems incongruous for a man who brings life into a room just by walking into it. When he reluctantly joins a group of contemporaries who have relatives dying of the disease, she meets Isaiah, 11, whose optimism makes her sad and hopeful at the same time. Slim's first-person narrative concentrates on herself, her father, and Larry, his lover and devoted companion, and their relationship with Isaiah and his loving mother. Nelson uses all her tools skillfully. The violent swings of weather and natural phenomena of the Los Angeles area- hard rains, brilliant sun, an earthquake with its unsettling aftershocks-reflect Slim's roller-coaster emotions. Major and minor characters are real people and never case studies. And the author's use of language expresses both the action and underlying feelings while remaining true to the voice of the narrator. The gripping story, which includes a healthy dose of humor, ends gently with Mack's death. This special book should find a wide audience.
Amy Kellman, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440219892
• ISBN-13: 978-0440219897
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,281,984 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Affecting and Tearjerking, July 12, 2000

By 

Amy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earthshine (Paperback)

Earthshine was incredibly moving and touching; changing the way I think and feel about many serious issues that are dealt with in this novel. The main character, Slim, is a confused, unstable and hurting twelve year old. She narrates to her diary, and her feelings were so well expressed I felt as if I had always known her. When she hurt, I hurt, when she suffered, I suffered. And so when she changed and grew, so did I.

The main conflict is that Slim's father has been diagnosed with AIDS. He is upbeat and hilarious, with a good natured attitude toward life. But as the fatal virus takes over his body, he becomes weak and feeble. The book deals with Slim's journey through grief--showing her pain and worry, her anxiousness and confusion, and finally her resolutions and growths. After many agonizing, pain-filled months, Slim's father finally passes away. But not without leaving Slim with hope for the future, a love-filled heart and strong values that I as the reader also acquired from this book.

Overall, I found this book to be incredible, eye opening and profound; changing the way I feel about those with AIDS. By all means, it is worth your time to read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a wonderful novel, July 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Earthshine (Paperback)

We empathise with 12 year old Slim as her father's condition inexorably proceeds through the closing stages of AIDS, with the various effects honestly outlined. The tension inherent in the situation leads us to share the unrealistic sense of hope posed by a supposed miracle man - though the miracle proves to be emotional peace for Slim's dad and his partner. A fascinating secondary character is Isaiah,  whose pregnant mother has AIDS while his late father died from the disease. Both Isaiah and Slim belong to a group for relatives of AIDS patients run by a liberal church. There are no "happy endings," yet Earthshine reflects the force of human love, the diverse meanings of "family," and the resilience of the human spirit.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Earthshine review, May 22, 2003

By 

Mason (Ravensdale, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earthshine (Paperback)

In the book "Earthshine" 12 year old Margery McGranahan recognized as Slim's who lives in California has a father named Mack is diagnosed with AIDS. Everyday Mack is getting sicker, but still is upbeat and maintains a good attitude. For the period when Mack is sick he wants Slim to go to a Support Group for people with a family member who has AIDS. There she meets a good kid named Isaiah, 11, whose cheerfulness makes her depressing and positive at the same moment in time. In which his father already had died of AIDS. Isaiah is continuously trying to give optimism to the "doubting Thomasina" who would to a certain extent bring to a close moment in time than discover what life may hold for her. Isaiah believes that the Miracle Man in "Hungry Valley" which is north of Los Angeles can cure her father. Slim doesn't believe in Miracles, she only believes what she sees. But Isaiah's great attitude starts to rub off on Slim and she starts to consider that her father will be capable of being saved. The major clash is with the purpose of Slim's father has been diagnosed with AIDS. He is cheerful and entertaining, by way of a high-quality attitude on the way to life. Except at the same time as the incurable disease takes in excess of his body, he becomes fragile and weak. The book deals by way of Slim's expedition from beginning to end grief, and performing her hurting and her loss of sleep. Then her anxiousness and confusion, and finally her resolutions and growths. At that time Slim, Mack, Isaiah, Larry, and other then pack up to go to Miracle Mountain wishing and hoping for a miracle for Slim's father. Will Slim and her father find a miracle? Read the book. All in all I thought this was a very good book, it really brought to my attention what the effects of AIDS really are. This book is great a well meaning for your time to read.