Losing Louisa [Hardcover]

Judith Caseley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 24, 1999

Lacy gets a crash course on life, love, and families

Lacey Levine's family has changed since her parents' divorce. Her mother has turned into a health-food fanatic who wears tight clothes and goes out on dates with a guy named Vinnie. Her father is remarried, and his new wife has just had a baby. Lacey is struggling with the changes and trying to sort out her own crush on a jerk named David when she finds out her older sister, Rosie -- smart Rosie, cheerleader Rosie, Rosie with the angelic singing voice -- is pregnant. At first, it is Lacey alone who supports Rosie as she tries to decide what to do, but soon it becomes a family affair. Abortion seems the right choice until Rosie spends time with her new half sister and starts to think about the baby growing inside her, and even gives her a name -- Louisa. As the family draws together in helping Rosie sort out her options, Lacey discovers that, no matter how it may be configured, family is family. Judith Caseley has written a tender novel about sisters, decisions, and love in its many forms.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Told from the point of view of a younger sister, this drama depicting the effects of teen pregnancy on a family reveals a keen authorial intelligence, but its weaknesses ultimately outweigh its promise. Caseley (Kisses) deftly introduces a raft of conflicts as she focuses on Lacey, a normal-enough 16-year-old with a steady baby-sitting job, a best friend who wears black lipstick, and a crush on a jerk. Lacey is shocked when she walks in on her older sister Rosie, a classic "good girl," doing "it" with her boyfriend; Lacey rolls her eyes when her mom, known for her sharp thinking, turns to jelly as she prepares for dates with her first post-divorce boyfriend. Caseley juggles the various story lines with impressive ease, and some characterizations are superb, the mother's in particular. But when Rosie confides to Lacey that she is pregnant, the novel begins to slip. Lacey and Rosie's relationship feels vague, even as Lacey accompanies Rosie to a family-planning clinic and gets information about abortion, and even after Lacey and Rosie share the intense experience of baby-sitting for their father and stepmother's days-old daughter. Her maternal instincts dramatically awakened by her new half-sister, Rosie announces she is going to keep the baby; a chapter or two later, she decides on an open adoption. It's too cozy and neat a solution for the complex family portrait Caseley has drawn. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-Lacey's mother is a health-food addict; her older sister Rosie is "Miss Perfect Preppie." Lacey's dad and new wife are expecting a baby. Lacey, struggling with the changes wrought by her parents' divorce, has a crush on David, a boy even her best friend calls a jerk. Fortunately, a beer party reveals the real David to Lacey. Being 16 isn't easy, and when Lacey discovers angelic Rosie having sex with her boyfriend, she feels like an alien. When Rosie becomes pregnant, Lacey takes on the new roles of protector and supporter. Mom has to be told, and Grandma joins the fray. Even Dad takes part as the Levines draw together, and Lacey discovers that family is family no matter what. With humor and a light touch, Caseley realistically portrays teens, their loves, their friendships, and their insecurities. Readers will identify with a story that could be set in Any High School, U.S.A. Tough decisions require tough discussions, and the abortion vs. adoption scene is well done. Never maudlin or didactic, Caseley's novel is a story of love, family, and the resilience of the spirit.
Gail Richmond, San Diego Unified Schools, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (March 24, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374346658
• ISBN-13: 978-0374346652
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,316,142 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:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing book for teens AND adults, July 1, 2001

By 

Jessica Wirth (Albany, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Losing Louisa (Hardcover)

Losing Louisa is book about a 16 year old girl named Lacey who is coming to terms or has to come to terms with many things that have happened or are happening in her life. Her sister's pregnancy shatters Lacey's perception of her sister as a prim, preppy, good girl. Lacey's father, who has deserted her and her family for another woman, is living in a posh house and expecting a child with his new wife. Lacey's mother is dressing in tight clothes, going out with a body-builder named Vinnie, and acting much like a 16 year old herself. As for Lacey, she is dealing with the everyday pressures of growing up. The fact that her crush is turning out to be a jerk. Her mixed feelings about her father. The guy from the deli who has a crush on her.Lacey is dealing with a lot, but throughout this book she learns a lot too. So does the reader. In general the writting was clever and humourous,as was the story, but also serious at some moments and sad at others. This book was an incredibly good read and i would recomend it for anyone (teenaged or adult) who wants to read a great book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Teen, November 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Losing Louisa (Hardcover)

A Review by Nichole

The Book Losing Louisa is told by Lacey the younger sister in the book. Lacey's life hasn't been going very well ever since her parents got divorced. Things just keep getting worse and worse. Lacey is living with her mother Lenora and her older sister Rosie. Her father is living with his new wife and has a baby on the way. During the nights at Lacey's house she hears noises coming from the basement and she is too scared to go down there and see what the noises are. Lacey's mother thinks that it is just the neighbor cats. The most shocking thing wasn't that it is finding out that Rosie is pregnant and they don't know weather to keep the baby or put it up for adoption. I like how this book has a lot of real teenage things going on and the events aren't fake they are real thing that do happen. I like teen books and this is a teen book so it was worth reading. I usually don't like reading books and I did like reading this book I got really in to it. The things that lacey and the rest of the family are going through are normal and some people who might read this book might be able to relate to things in the book.

I would recommend this book to those of you who like teen books or realistic books. You can really get in to this book and imagine the things going on and how the people are feeling.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb read!, July 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Losing Louisa (Hardcover)

The struggles of Lacey and her potential love life, and Rosie and her decision about her growing baby can't help but keep you engrossed in the story. This is a great story of sisters who share their troubles and work to make it through.