Welcome to our first ARC Club Saturday, a new weekly blog feature here at Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester. Our customers and staff here at 65 James Street act as guest bloggers, reviewing “advance reader copies”, or ARCs sent to us by large and small publishers throughout the calendar year.
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Reviewer: Nicole P
Title: “Sure Signs of Crazy”
Author: Karen Harrington
ISBN: 978-0316210584
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 16, 2013
Core Audience: Ages 9+
Review: The novel Sure Signs of Crazy by Karen Harrington is a great book for young readers. It chronicles the summer of twelve year old Sarah Nelson, who is struggling to find herself amongst her difficulties with friends and family. When she was only two, Sarah’s mother killed her twin brother, and tried to kill Sarah as well. Ten years later, Sarah and her father still find themselves being harassed by news reporters, causing them to move quite often. Sarah’s father is also an alcoholic, and constantly avoids her questions about her family’s past. But this summer is different. Working hard to make it the best one yet, Sarah develops a new crush, makes new friends, and finally finds the answers about her family she has been denied for so long.
Sure Signs of Crazy is relatable for most young girls, trying to figure themselves out in these middle school years. With wit and determination, Sarah provides a character that many girls today can see themselves in. The daily life and hardships of a young girl can seem like the end of the world to them, but Sarah handles herself with composure and sets a model for other girls (and perhaps boys) of the same age. Through this exposition, Harrington addresses the problems that most preteens and some adult shave gone through, from missing friends, to new crushes, and from alcoholic family members, to dealing with your past, no matter how daunting it may seem. Preteens will certainly find Sure Signs of Crazy to be a great book, and it surely will be popular.
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You too can be an ARC Club guest blogger! We have review copies of kids’ books, teen books, and adult books available, and more are coming in all the time. Drop by Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester at 65 James Street to find out more.
—Patty and the staff of ABSW