Finished 2-17-09, rating 4.5/5, fiction, pub. 1997
This is the thing about strong people: you can mostly be scared of them but sometimes the way they are makes you feel safe.
page 108, hardcover
Katie and her father have moved to Missouri from Texas just as Katie is entering the insecurity and wonder of her teen years. Her mother is dead, her sister is pregnant, her father is distant, and she is mostly ignored at school. She thinks maybe the only people who like her are the cafeteria ladies because they always give her seconds. Then she meets Jimmy, the much older manager of a gas station and her luck seems to be changing. She begins spending more time with the married Jimmy and even finds a few friends along the way.
Katie’s story covers all of the universal feelings of youth. Loneliness, awkwardness, confusion, and fear all come together for the perfect storm we call puberty. I was touched by Katie and when she was uncomfortable or horrified, so was I because the memories all came back to me. She was heartbreak and humor at once. She had me laughing out loud (her first experience at the drive-in was priceless) and also cringing at her optimistic view of a future with Jimmy.
I love this book. There is something distinctive about the words Elizabeth Berg chooses and I am immediately engaged. I recognize myself in her characters and I think you will too. If you haven’t read her, you should!
This book stands on its own as a wonderful read, but it is a sequel to Durable Goods. I did not know this until I was finished reading it and it really made me mad. I think you should read this book, but I also think you should read Durable Goods first (even though I haven’t read it myself!).
Highly recommended.
Stacy's Books 
I love Elizabeth Berg’s writing, so I’ll add these 2 books to my ever-growing, enormous wish list. Thanks for the review.
The list just keeps growing right? I have about 5 lists stuffed in my desk drawer!
I really love Elizabeth Berg, too. Her novel Dream When You’re Feeling Blue is one of my all-time favorites! While I enjoyed this book, I wasn’t as completely engrossed in it as I wanted to be. I wish I’d known about Durable Goods first, too! I think her relationship with her father would have made much more sense to me.
I agree about the relationship between Katie and her father. I never really understood it and probably would have if I had read Durable Goods first 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
I also love Elizabeth Berg but I didn’t even know about this one. Thanks for your review. I’ll be reading these books together. I have an award for you here!
http://wrightysreads.blogspot.com/
I will be adding both to my list. Thanks for the review!
Always happy to recommend good books!
Your teaser got my attention and now your review is telling me to read this book or at least start with the first one. Thanks for a good review.
I hope you like it 🙂
You make this sound great – I’ll have to check both out.