Fighting the Current [Paperback]

Heather Waldorf (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

Theresa "Tee" Stanford figures her life is smooth sailing. After graduation, she and her father Mel plan to take a spring canoe trip down the Rideau Waterway. But everything changes when a drunk driver hits Mel, leaving him with the mind of a five-year-old. With her last year of high school looming large, Tee finds she can no longer rely on her old dreams for the future. Her struggle is one of holding her pain at bay while finding new reasons to keep her head above water. The story is told from the teenager's perspective about family dysfunction and the challenge of having a disabled relative. Serious issues are balanced with humor. Features a typical female teen who is strong but insecure, smart and athletic, yet emotional and romantic.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–Theresa Stanford, 17, is adjusting to the serious blows that life has dealt her. Her parents are divorced, and she doesn't get along with her mother. Her father was recently hit by a car and left with the mental abilities of a kindergartner. Then, the drunk driver's vindictive brother sets fire to the house where Theresa lives with her aunt. It burns to the ground and Aunt George dies in the blaze. But not everything is dark. The teen finds herself drawn to Ethan, a new boy in her Canadian town, and he helps her through her problems. He knows a lot about coping, because his beloved sister has cystic fibrosis. Ethan and Theresa's relationship has believable trials, but overall it grows and, by the end, they're planning a life together. Her dad improves, and he and her mother, who discover that they are still very much in love, plan to remarry. Although Theresa finds this troubling, she and her mother eventually form a truce. The book has a few minor flaws: the dialogue is sometimes stilted and preachy and many of the scenes and conflict resolutions are told rather than shown. However, the most important moments are always dramatized. The characters are believably imperfect, and they work through their troubles in realistic ways.–Catherine Ensley, Latah County Free Library District, Moscow, ID --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"A meaty read, Fighting the Current will leave thoughtful readers asking 'Who am I?'" -- Dave Jenkinson, Editor, CM: Canadian Review of Materials --Dave Jenkinson, Editor, CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"Waldorf's novel achieves a Nancy Drew breeziness while at the same time addressing serious issues." -- Deirdre Baker, Toronto Star --Deirdre Baker, Toronto Star

"You are drawn in...from the very first page...This is a very intense, very real book." -- Katie Stuart, Independently Reviewed --Katie Stuart, Independently Reviewed

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Lobster Press (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 189422292X
• ISBN-13: 978-1894222921
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,308,248 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, June 21, 2008

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fighting the Current (Paperback)

Tee's senior year of high school should be filled with happy memories of friends, family, and college dreams. It's anything but that. A local drunk hit her father and he's in rehabilitation with the ability of a five-year-old. Since she doesn't have much of a relationship with her mother, Tee is living with an aunt who is a popular author.

It's time for Tee to put her life back together. She is a good student and wants to get an early acceptance to a prestigious university. Ethan is a new student and the two have more than a study relationship.

They find out that they both have home situations that are different than the norm: Ethan's younger sister struggles with cystic fibrosis and, like Tee's father, hospital and doctor visits are a part of life.

Tee's father loved the outdoors and was working with her to build a canoe. It's left unfinished in the garage and it's a reminder of the past. Tee knows she's got to move forward, but where does her father fit in? How about her mother, too, who is longing for the family that she once had?. There are more tragedies ahead, as well. Can Tee rebuild what has been broken and also finish what's been started?

I absolutely loved FIGHTING THE CURRENT. It's one of the best I've read in a long time. I found myself wondering what Tee was going to do. This book was full of unpredictability and surprises. This book's theme appeared to be that even though relationships can change over time, love remains and you have to see it in a different light. I highly recommend this book!

Reviewed by: hoopsielv