Oh Lurlene McDaniel... so many memories, so many tears. If I remember correctly I began reading her books in the 4th or 5th grade.The first book I ever read by Lurlene McDaniel was Six Months to Live, about a 13 year old girl with Leukemia. I am not sure what it is about her formula that sucks in the adolescent girl reader, but I read and re-read a good chunk of her books. I would equate her to the adolescent version of Nicholas Sparks... you know when you crack open the book that tears will eventually come only McDaniel usually does it in under 200 pages. It is like a weird balm for the reader’s soul. You feel drained and refreshed at the end.
So this time around I re-read several of her books: Six Months to Live, Somewhere Between Life and Death, Time to Let Go, and The Legacy: Making Wishes Come True. They all follow a rather similar formula (I apologize if I mistakenly spoil the plots for anyone.) The protagonist (most often female) of the novel is either diagnosed with a terminal illness or loses someone close to her. She will meet several people; either at cancer camp, in the hospital, by chance etc. She will either fall in “love” with one of these people or a long time childhood friend. One or more of these people introduced to her through the terminal illness experience will die. If the protagonist does not have a terminal illness but rather lost someone close they will be reminded of the deceased through interactions with this person.
The plots of these novels do not go very far nor would I expect it to in under 200 pages. However, I still feel drawn to the characters 20 years later as I did when I was 9 years old. It is like visiting with old friends without the awkwardness and growing apart. These characters were around when I was an awkward, lonely adolescent. And they haven’t changed now that I am still awkward, a little less lonely, and somewhere on the verge of grown up. I still cry each time, even though I can pick right away who is going to die this time. It is like sappy brain candy but it is interesting because there often is not a happy ending. People die, love fades, friendships fizzle out... maybe young girls like the books because they (while dramatic) have a taste of realness. Yes, someone might fall in love. But that love is not perfect, never ending, or deep. People argue and cancer kills people. Miracles don’t happen in these books. Sometimes medicine works, sometime it doesn’t.
I am generally not considered a sappy person. My friends might consider me blunt and to the point. I have a not so secret soft side though that Lurlene McDaniel still can fill. I think her stories reach out to me in they are sad and sappy but realistic. I can see the stories happening with some semblance of realism. I expected to read these and find a distaste for them now that I have gone to college, learned some things, and declared myself a feminist. However, I was surprised to find that while girls fell in love with boys, these romances did not solve their problems nor did boys swoop in and save the girl from herself. The girls did a lot of soul searching and experienced a lot. Sometimes a boy was involved, sometimes not but I actually was pleased to find that the books did not suddenly aggravate my feminist tendencies. The girls in the books were actually quite strong role models... that it is okay to have emotions and be tough.
So, all in all, I would visit this author again. At least the books of hers I read in the past. It looks like McDaniel has moved into some more mystery type novels. I find beloved books of the past a lot easier to read fondly than a new book from an old author. The new just never seems to be the same. But for those of you who read the sappy novels in your youth, I would recommend giving them a second go around on a day you need a good cry. Make sure you have the tissues handy!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Lurlene McDaniels
A few days ago, I embarked on the first journey with the Adolescent Book Club. Lurlene McDaniels. Anyone who has read these books will understand this post. An author that hit on tough topics - like child/young adult diseases, heartache, loss, grief, and then finding the strength and hope to continue to move forward. Impressive.
Three books. Three different types of loss. Three different emotional responses. Each brings back such a different set of memories - it would probably take me hours to blog about each one. However, I will tell you that I read Six Months to Live, Time to Let Go, and When Happily Ever After Ends.
When I opened the book Six Months To Live, I felt like I went back in time. I was suddenly 10 again, getting ready to crack the spine of a brand new book. I remember sitting under the tree in our yard on a blanket - my favorite place to read. Now, nineteen years later, I was sitting outside and ready to read about Dawn Rochelle. The book smelled different - like old gasoline and aged books. I smiled as I thought about the box that my mother had found in the shed of all the books I used to read when I was younger. Memories played across my mind like a movie reel.
I cracked the book open and was whirled into the world of young adults with cancer. Then, as the doctor in the book explained to Dawn that she had cancer, I felt the tears and emotion start to overwhelm me. When I was younger, cancer seemed like a distant tragedy. Now, after so many years, I am still overcome with emotion as I continued to read. Cancer has affected so many people in my life - and the emotion in the book threw me. I began to think of how my family members must have felt when each one of them learned s/he had cancer - and how I will never know how they felt about it, because sharing emotion isn't really done in my family. It seems odd that I am a member of this family - especially since I am such an emotional person. I had to read these books late at night, under the safety of my covers with a small pen light to keep from having my family hear me crying. I didn't want to let anyone know that I was emotional. Now, it's kind of difficult to hide - anyone who knows me understands that I am an emotional person. Crying is just one way to keep me balanced. Anyway, when I was younger, I remember thinking that I didn't have to worry about cancer - it wouldn't happen to anyone I knew. As time went by, I learned otherwise - but at the age of 10 when you are healthy and you see your family as healthy, you really don't think it will happen to you or anyone you know.
I finished When Happily Ever After Ends last night. This book tore at my heart again, but with different memories. These memories hurt. Sometimes you think you have things buried away, and then you read a book and everything comes flooding back. But it was a good experience. In the book, the father commits suicide. While I have never had to deal with this situation first hand, I do know what it's like to have someone you love leave you behind. Sometimes you wonder why they left or what motivated them to think differently about you and your family. The main character in the book felt the same way. Always asking why. And sometimes you never get an answer to that question. You have to decide whether to let the question consume you or to move on. Both the character and I moved on. Still, after so many years, I can't help but wonder why decisions were made, promises were never kept, and communication was lost. On some level, I know why. I was tired of being hurt. But I don't think I will ever understand the thinking that goes along with the leaving.
I thought after nineteen years, my feelings would be different. I didn't think I would react to the books in the same way. I didn't know that these three little books would give me so much to think about. Feelings I had buried along time ago have come back, but not in a negative way. I am so much stronger than I once was - and I don't hold any grudges to the ones who have left me behind. I did some leaving on my own as well.
I will say that these books are pretty much classic. And I would never go back and not read these books. In some way, they helped me deal with a lot of pent up anger, hurt, frustration - well, any emotion when I was younger. Through these stories, I discovered at a young age that I could find the strength and hope to move forward. And for that, I am truly grateful.
Three books. Three different types of loss. Three different emotional responses. Each brings back such a different set of memories - it would probably take me hours to blog about each one. However, I will tell you that I read Six Months to Live, Time to Let Go, and When Happily Ever After Ends.
When I opened the book Six Months To Live, I felt like I went back in time. I was suddenly 10 again, getting ready to crack the spine of a brand new book. I remember sitting under the tree in our yard on a blanket - my favorite place to read. Now, nineteen years later, I was sitting outside and ready to read about Dawn Rochelle. The book smelled different - like old gasoline and aged books. I smiled as I thought about the box that my mother had found in the shed of all the books I used to read when I was younger. Memories played across my mind like a movie reel.
I cracked the book open and was whirled into the world of young adults with cancer. Then, as the doctor in the book explained to Dawn that she had cancer, I felt the tears and emotion start to overwhelm me. When I was younger, cancer seemed like a distant tragedy. Now, after so many years, I am still overcome with emotion as I continued to read. Cancer has affected so many people in my life - and the emotion in the book threw me. I began to think of how my family members must have felt when each one of them learned s/he had cancer - and how I will never know how they felt about it, because sharing emotion isn't really done in my family. It seems odd that I am a member of this family - especially since I am such an emotional person. I had to read these books late at night, under the safety of my covers with a small pen light to keep from having my family hear me crying. I didn't want to let anyone know that I was emotional. Now, it's kind of difficult to hide - anyone who knows me understands that I am an emotional person. Crying is just one way to keep me balanced. Anyway, when I was younger, I remember thinking that I didn't have to worry about cancer - it wouldn't happen to anyone I knew. As time went by, I learned otherwise - but at the age of 10 when you are healthy and you see your family as healthy, you really don't think it will happen to you or anyone you know.
I finished When Happily Ever After Ends last night. This book tore at my heart again, but with different memories. These memories hurt. Sometimes you think you have things buried away, and then you read a book and everything comes flooding back. But it was a good experience. In the book, the father commits suicide. While I have never had to deal with this situation first hand, I do know what it's like to have someone you love leave you behind. Sometimes you wonder why they left or what motivated them to think differently about you and your family. The main character in the book felt the same way. Always asking why. And sometimes you never get an answer to that question. You have to decide whether to let the question consume you or to move on. Both the character and I moved on. Still, after so many years, I can't help but wonder why decisions were made, promises were never kept, and communication was lost. On some level, I know why. I was tired of being hurt. But I don't think I will ever understand the thinking that goes along with the leaving.
I thought after nineteen years, my feelings would be different. I didn't think I would react to the books in the same way. I didn't know that these three little books would give me so much to think about. Feelings I had buried along time ago have come back, but not in a negative way. I am so much stronger than I once was - and I don't hold any grudges to the ones who have left me behind. I did some leaving on my own as well.
I will say that these books are pretty much classic. And I would never go back and not read these books. In some way, they helped me deal with a lot of pent up anger, hurt, frustration - well, any emotion when I was younger. Through these stories, I discovered at a young age that I could find the strength and hope to move forward. And for that, I am truly grateful.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Starry, Starry Night
Okay, so let me start out by saying that I have never written a blog before in my life. Unless my writing is for an important paper or e-mail, I tend to write like I would talk so please bear with me!
So I never read Lurlene McDaniel when I was growing up; in fact, I didn't know who Lurlene McDaniel was until Kerry and Christine were telling me all about these books that made them cry when they were growing up. Coming of age stories dealing with tough issues surrounding death...doesn't really sound like my cup of tea.
It was insisted that I read at least one Lurlene McDaniel book, so I chose Starry, Starry Night- Three Holiday Stories. My reason for choosing this book was because it was three stories that took place around Christmas and it is my favorite holiday (and not because of Santa and presents). The cover of the book has a young girl staring at the North Star. The North Star has such a deep meaning for me and I thought I would give this book a try.
The book starts out with a Prologue and goes through the rhyme most kids grow up saying when they wish on stars. "Star Light Star Bright, First Star I See Tonight, Wish I May, Wish I Might, Have the Wish I Wish Tonight." I remember saying this phrase over and over as a child...I may have even said it last week. So this began my journey into three stories, about three different girls on different paths of life...all ending in tears.
Throughout the three stories I came to meet three different young women in three very different situations. I met Melanie, a 15 year old whose parents are having an unplanned baby; Brenda, a young woman caught between dating the boy of her dreams or fulfilling the dreams of a new friend; finally, I met Kathy, a 17 year old who seems to have the perfect life, but is in the process of making the most important decision of her life.
The young woman I seemed to connect with the most was Brenda. Brenda gives up her dream date to the winter dance, to help a new friend attend his first and last dance before he passes away from cancer. While I don't feel comfortable going into great detail, I will say that I attended a senior prom with a childhood friend who suffered from developmental delays from an underdeveloped brain due to a birth defect of his skull. Unlike Brenda, I didn't hesitate in my response when I agreed to attend his prom. We didn't go to the same school, so I knew none of his friends and was uncomfortable most of the night because I knew this night meant more to him than it did to me. While reading this story, I cried because I knew the outcome with Brenda's friend. I am happy to say that my friend is alive, despite doctors stating he would never make it to the age of 20.
While these stories did make me cry and I was extremely emotional throughout the book, I can see how young women would relate to these stories and how young woman would identify with the characters and heal in certain situations. I think that if I would have read this book at the appropriate age, I would probably read more of her books. I think Lurlene McDaniel is the Nicholas Sparks for young girls (side note, I refuse to read his books because I cry too much).
Overall, I would recommend Lurlene McDaniel books to young girls, just make sure that tissues are on hand and be ready to process afterwards!
So I never read Lurlene McDaniel when I was growing up; in fact, I didn't know who Lurlene McDaniel was until Kerry and Christine were telling me all about these books that made them cry when they were growing up. Coming of age stories dealing with tough issues surrounding death...doesn't really sound like my cup of tea.
It was insisted that I read at least one Lurlene McDaniel book, so I chose Starry, Starry Night- Three Holiday Stories. My reason for choosing this book was because it was three stories that took place around Christmas and it is my favorite holiday (and not because of Santa and presents). The cover of the book has a young girl staring at the North Star. The North Star has such a deep meaning for me and I thought I would give this book a try.
The book starts out with a Prologue and goes through the rhyme most kids grow up saying when they wish on stars. "Star Light Star Bright, First Star I See Tonight, Wish I May, Wish I Might, Have the Wish I Wish Tonight." I remember saying this phrase over and over as a child...I may have even said it last week. So this began my journey into three stories, about three different girls on different paths of life...all ending in tears.
Throughout the three stories I came to meet three different young women in three very different situations. I met Melanie, a 15 year old whose parents are having an unplanned baby; Brenda, a young woman caught between dating the boy of her dreams or fulfilling the dreams of a new friend; finally, I met Kathy, a 17 year old who seems to have the perfect life, but is in the process of making the most important decision of her life.
The young woman I seemed to connect with the most was Brenda. Brenda gives up her dream date to the winter dance, to help a new friend attend his first and last dance before he passes away from cancer. While I don't feel comfortable going into great detail, I will say that I attended a senior prom with a childhood friend who suffered from developmental delays from an underdeveloped brain due to a birth defect of his skull. Unlike Brenda, I didn't hesitate in my response when I agreed to attend his prom. We didn't go to the same school, so I knew none of his friends and was uncomfortable most of the night because I knew this night meant more to him than it did to me. While reading this story, I cried because I knew the outcome with Brenda's friend. I am happy to say that my friend is alive, despite doctors stating he would never make it to the age of 20.
While these stories did make me cry and I was extremely emotional throughout the book, I can see how young women would relate to these stories and how young woman would identify with the characters and heal in certain situations. I think that if I would have read this book at the appropriate age, I would probably read more of her books. I think Lurlene McDaniel is the Nicholas Sparks for young girls (side note, I refuse to read his books because I cry too much).
Overall, I would recommend Lurlene McDaniel books to young girls, just make sure that tissues are on hand and be ready to process afterwards!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Book List (Still Growing)
The BFG- Roald Dahl
Matilda- Roald Dahl
Ramona Quimby, Age 8- Beverly Cleary
Are you there God? It’s Me, Margaret- Judy Blume
A Little Princess- Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Chronicles of Narnia- C.S. Lewis
His Dark Materials Trilogy- Philip Pullman
Anne of Green Gables- LM Montgomery
The Phantom Tollbooth- Norton Juster
A Wrinkle in Time- Madeleine L’Engle
Island of the Blue Dolphins- Scot O’Dell
Where the Red Fern Grows- Wilson Rawls
Charlotte’s Web- EB White
Mr. Popper’s Penguins- Florence Atwater
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry!- Mildred D. Taylor
Bridge to Terabithia- Katherine Peterson
Jacob Have I Love- Katherine Peterson
Number the Stars- Lowis Lowry
Maniac Magee- Jerry Spinelli
Little House on the Prairie- Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little Women- Louisa May Alcott
Nobody’s Fault- Patricia Hermes
Sideways Stories from Wayside School- by Louis Sachar
Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective- Donald Sobol
Key Authors to Read:
Christopher Pike
R.L. Stine
Lurlene McDaniel
A note: The list could also include books that each of us read, but may not be listed.
Matilda- Roald Dahl
Ramona Quimby, Age 8- Beverly Cleary
Are you there God? It’s Me, Margaret- Judy Blume
A Little Princess- Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Chronicles of Narnia- C.S. Lewis
His Dark Materials Trilogy- Philip Pullman
Anne of Green Gables- LM Montgomery
The Phantom Tollbooth- Norton Juster
A Wrinkle in Time- Madeleine L’Engle
Island of the Blue Dolphins- Scot O’Dell
Where the Red Fern Grows- Wilson Rawls
Charlotte’s Web- EB White
Mr. Popper’s Penguins- Florence Atwater
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry!- Mildred D. Taylor
Bridge to Terabithia- Katherine Peterson
Jacob Have I Love- Katherine Peterson
Number the Stars- Lowis Lowry
Maniac Magee- Jerry Spinelli
Little House on the Prairie- Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little Women- Louisa May Alcott
Nobody’s Fault- Patricia Hermes
Sideways Stories from Wayside School- by Louis Sachar
Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective- Donald Sobol
Key Authors to Read:
Christopher Pike
R.L. Stine
Lurlene McDaniel
A note: The list could also include books that each of us read, but may not be listed.
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