The September Sisters [Hardcover]

Jillian Cantor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2009

Abigail Reed and her younger sister, Becky, are always at each other's throats. Their mother calls them the September Sisters, because their birthdays are only a day apart, and pretends that they're best friends. But really, they delight in making each other miserable. Then Becky disappears in the middle of the night, and a torn gold chain with a sapphire heart charm is the only clue to the mystery of her kidnapping. Abby struggles to cope with her own feelings of guilt and loss as she tries to keep her family together. When her world is at its bleakest, Abby meets a new neighbor, Tommy, who is dealing with his own loss, and the two of them discover that love can bloom, even when it's surrounded by thorns.

This exquisitely written first novel illustrates life as it truly is—filled with fear and danger, hope and love, comfort and uncertainty.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In this debut novel’s dramatic opening, Abigail is called out of her tenth-grade class to hear the words that she’s been waiting for since her sister, Becky, went missing two years ago: “They’ve found her.” Who took Becky? Where is the body? Was she murdered? The police consider Abigail’s depressed mother a prime suspect. Is she cheating on her husband? The story goes on too long, but what will hold readers, along with the suspense of the whodunit, is the honesty of the sibling story. Abigail remembers her quarrels with her sister and their rivalry for their parents’ attention, and her first-person narrative tells the truth about the breakup of a family; her grief, anger and long-time jealousy; and even her complicated feelings after she makes out with the boy next door. The dialogue, clipped and intense, leaves room for readers to recognize their own experiences in the words. And, always, there is the suspense: Where is Becky? Is “missing” worse than dead? Grades 7-12. --Hazel Rochman

Review

“In her memorable debut novel, Cantor follows a family so devastated by the disappearance of a daughter that it never fully recovers.” (Publishers Weekly )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (February 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061686484
• ISBN-13: 978-0061686481
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,267,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jillian Cantor has a BA in English from Penn State University and an MFA from The University of Arizona, where she was the recipient of the national Jacob K. Javits Fellowship. Her first novel, THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS, was called "memorable" and "startlingly real" by Publishers Weekly. Her second YA novel, THE LIFE OF GLASS, was released in February 2010, and her debut novel for adults, THE TRANSFORMATION OF THINGS, will be out on November 2, 2010. She lives in Arizona with her husband and two sons.

Visit her online at http://www.jilliancantor.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story!, February 26, 2009

By 

E. Noone "EJN" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The September Sisters (Hardcover)

A tender love story, a page-turning mystery, and a beautiful coming of age tale, September Sisters is a wonderful book for people of all ages. I read it as an adult and could not put it down, and I could only imagine how my 13-year-old self would have loved every twist and turn of the plot. You'll fall so deeply in love with Abby that you'll have trouble separating the book from reality!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, February 24, 2009

By 

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

This review is from: The September Sisters (Hardcover)

Abigail and Becky are exactly two years and a day apart, and are often referred as the September Sisters by their mother. However, despite their close proximity of age, they constantly squabble with one another and compete for their parents' attention.

But after the sudden disappearance of Becky, Abby's whole life changes. Her mom grows more and more distant and her dad becomes overbearing and obsessed with the investigation. Abby is officially no longer an ignorant child, as she desperately tries to keep her family together.

Abby has no one to confide in until Tommy moves in next door. She soon finds herself expressing all of her emotions, pain, guilt, and resentment towards Becky and her disappearance to him. Along the way, Abigail also falls in love with him, even when everything in her world is less than perfect.

THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS, Jillian Cantor's debut novel, was truly unforgettable, with the perfect mixture of realism, great character development, and plot. Ms. Cantor did a clever job at crafting the opening scene, because I was hooked from the very first page.

The main character, Abby, was really well-written. All of her emotions were portrayed effectively and realistically, making it easy to sympathize with her. But, most importantly, she was a strong heroine, even given her tragic situation. One of the things that I thought was especially memorable were the contrasting emotions Abby endured throughout the book. At one point she was frustrated and even jealous of how much attention her sister received, even after she disappeared.

Her relationship with Tommy was a perfect depiction of first love and its exploring nature. It was interesting to see how their relationship developed, because when they initially met they were hesitant to become friends since they were forced to talk during lunch.

This one is definitely recommended and worth adding to your wish list.

Reviewed by: May A.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hauntingly Beautiful..., July 1, 2009

By 

Tracy Madison - See all my reviews

This review is from: The September Sisters (Hardcover)

Jillian Cantor's debut novel, THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS, is a beautifully told tale of loss, living, coping, and first love. This story is about Abby and how her life changes when her younger sister Becky vanishes. I was hooked from the very first scene, and felt strongly connected to Abby through each and every moment depicted in the book: from the second she realizes that Becky is *really* gone, to dealing with the emotional absence of her mother, to her developing friendship with Tommy, to the very last page. The September Sisters is a hauntingly beautiful not-to-miss read. I can't wait for the next Jillian Cantor book!