Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche
A brand-new encounter could be gotten by checking out a publication Don't Fail Me Now, By Una LaMarche Also that is this Don't Fail Me Now, By Una LaMarche or other publication compilations. We offer this publication considering that you can locate a lot more points to encourage your skill as well as knowledge that will make you much better in your life. It will be additionally useful for the people around you. We suggest this soft data of guide here. To recognize the best ways to get this publication Don't Fail Me Now, By Una LaMarche, find out more right here.
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche
Best PDF Ebook Online Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche
From the author of Like No Other, the novel Entertainment Weekly calls "One of the most poignant and star-crossed love stories since The Fault in Our Stars": What if the last hope to save your family is the person who broke it up to begin with? "Fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell, and Sharon Flake will find much to love in [Don't Fail Me Now]." --School Library Journal Michelle and her little siblings Cass and Denny are African-American and living on the poverty line in urban Baltimore, struggling to keep it together with their mom in jail and only Michelle’s part-time job at the Taco Bell to sustain them. Leah and her stepbrother Tim are white and middle class from suburban Maryland, with few worries beyond winning lacrosse games and getting college applications in on time. Michelle and Leah only have one thing in common: Buck Devereaux, the biological father who abandoned them when they were little. After news trickles back to them that Buck is dying, they make the uneasy decision to drive across country to his hospice in California. Leah hopes for closure; Michelle just wants to give him a piece of her mind. Five people in a failing, old station wagon, living off free samples at food courts across America, and the most pressing question on Michelle’s mind is: Who will break down first--herself or the car? All the signs tell her they won’t make it. But Michelle has heard that her whole life, and it’s never stopped her before.... Una LaMarche triumphs once again with this rare and compassionate look at how racial and social privilege affects one family in crisis in both subtle and astonishing ways.
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche - Amazon Sales Rank: #560404 in Books
- Published on: 2015-09-01
- Released on: 2015-09-01
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.63" h x 1.13" w x 5.88" l, 1.00 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 288 pages
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche From School Library Journal Gr 6 Up—Michelle, an 17-year-old biracial teen, is almost through with high school in urban Baltimore. This is a blessing and a curse because school has been a reprieve from caring for her younger siblings when their mother, an addict, fails to adequately care for them. Her father is no longer a part of their lives, having left them for another woman and his child with her. They know that they have a half-sister but know little about her. Right after her mother is arrested on a drug charge, Michelle is approached by Tim, the older stepbrother of her half-sister, and is surprised to discover that he and Leah are both white and living in the nearby suburbs. Leah has heard from their father and he is dying. So, all five children get in an old car and head for a hospice in California. The road trip is an eye-opening experience for all of them. This is an excellent look at how race and socioeconomic status can impact children's lives. It draws into sharp relief how this impacts decision-making and perceptions. It also does not shy away from mental health issues and how difficult it is to get help for them when one lives in poverty. It is also a great look at family relationships. The characters are well developed and relatable. Serious issues are tempered with humor for a very readable novel. VERDICT Fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell, and Sharon Flake will find much to love in this novel.—Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH
Review "Perfect pacing and engaging characters will draw readers in, and they will empathize as the mismatched group of kids figures out what family really means. LaMarche’s poignant novel examines many tough issues and does so within a story that sings with hope."--Booklist"A highly relevant and necessary part of our conversation about race, poverty, and privilege. This is a must read."--Voice of Youth Advocates "A fantastic look at the dynamics of every kind of family."—Refinery29"[Michelle's] determination to survive in spite of everything is convincing, and her voice rings true. This story of teen resilience will resonate with readers."--Kirkus Reviews "Una LaMarche gave us the swoons last year with Like No Other, and this time around she turns her attention from forbidden first love to a complicated family. But, don't worry, Don't Fail Me Now has the same poignant observations of racial and societal privilege weaved into a memorable story that you love her for."--Bustle "An excellent look at how race and socioeconomic status can impact children’s lives... Serious issues are tempered with humor for a very readable novel. Fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell, and Sharon Flake will find much to love in [Don't Fail Me Now]." --School Library Journal
About the Author Una LaMarche is a writer and journalist whose work has appeared regularly in the New York Observer and on the Huffington Post. She is the author of Five Summers, Like No Other and Unabrow, a collection of humorous essays based on some of her more questionable life choices. Una lives in Brooklyn with her husband and son. Find out more at unalamarche.com or follow her on Twitter @sassycurmudgeon
Where to Download Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche
Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. "What else is there to break?" By E.M. Bristol Running away in young adult novels nowadays isn't quite the same as it was in the pre-GPS/Amber Alerts/social media days. (Can you imagine what would have happened to Huck and Jim if someone had installed a monitoring device in their cell phones?) This is something seventeen-year-old biracial Michelle Devereaux soon discovers when she takes her younger brother and sister and leaves home to seek out their estranged, dying father, Buck, who supposedly has a "heirloom" for them. As her drug addicted mother is currently in jail, and their aunt doesn't want to host them unless they provide rent money, few people are looking for Michelle and her siblings, but complications arise when they are joined by their half sister, Leah, and her stepbrother, Tim, both white and affluent and therefore, more likely to be searched for. With varying degrees of success at remaining off the grid, the group deals with car trouble, Michelle's sister's health issues, and lack of spending money as they attempt to reach Buck in California. Michelle is also surprised to find herself falling for Tim, even as she worries about keeping her part time job when she returns, as well as her siblings' problems.Pros: I really liked Michelle as a heroine. She was flawed but likeable, and the author did a great job in depicting how the oldest child in a dysfunctional family can have an over-developed sense of responsibility for her siblings. I also loved that she managed to fix the car with Leah on her own, which she was inspired to do by watching her single mom tinker with it.Cons: I felt like it was a bit of a cop out not to resolve any of the issues that MIchelle was fleeing in the first place. Obviously, you can't put a storybook ending on everything, but I would have at least liked to know if she kept her job.Overall: An engaging road trip/coming-of-age novel that handles issues like racism skillfully.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Two worlds collide. By Michelle L. Beck Michelle Devereau has seen and experienced a lot in her short life. She has a heroin addicted mother (who has been recently jailed); a troubled, younger sister; a baby brother who some would consider a bully;an indifferent aunt; and less than $200 dollars to take care of her siblings. So when a white teen (Tim) shows up and claims that they share a sister (Leah), she is shocked to say the least and isn't sure how she wants to react. But when she learns the reason for the visit....apparently her very absent, white biological father (Buck) wants to see her and her half-sister before he dies. In a moment of clarity or maybe panic, Michelle decides to head to California with her siblings, and see what her father has to say. Of course a bonus would be any inheritance he might leave. As the kids travel cross country, in an jalopy (nicknamed Goldie...the only thing she has from her father)...they must sleep in the car, live off samples or returned food in the mall food court, elude the authorities, and learn to accept each other. Ironically, they eventually learn that they have more in common than they first thought.This was my first Una Lamarche novel and I must admit I really enjoyed it and wouldn't hesitate to read another. Her writing style is clear and easy to follow. And while there were times that the story seemed somewhat unbelievable (five kids traveling cross county with no real resources or adult supervision), it was still entertaining and compelling. As a parent, I believe that this story will resignate with teens and inspire discussions about everything from drug use to bullying. Overall, it was a wonderful read...4 stars.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Unique plot. Well written. Not a joyous book but a good one By Texaswomyn This book is hard to categorize. It's certainly written for teenagers, though it's the rare mature teen that will enjoy the pain of these characters.I expect there will be many, many descriptions, in great detail, of the plot so I will just say this is about two families, one of privilege and one of poverty. One family white and one biracial/black. Two siblings with no worries and bright futures, and three siblings who struggle to have food to eat. These families are linked because three of the siblings have the same biological father. When the father sends word he's dying, the siblings leave Maryland to travel to California in a decrepit car to find answers and closure. That's the plot in a couple of sentences.What the teens find along the way is that despite the myriad surface differences they share a lot of similarities, including a strong sense of responsibility and care for one another. Along the way they learn to solve seemingly overwhelming problems, hone their survival skills, and gain confidence and conviction.The author writes very well; each character is distinct and fully developed with both good and a few not-so-good traits. I will share this book with my teenaged granddaughters and it will make for a good discussion after they've finished it.
See all 31 customer reviews...
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche PDF
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche iBooks
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche ePub
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche rtf
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche AZW
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche Kindle
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche
Don't Fail Me Now, by Una LaMarche
