Woman Reading

(Let me just pause here a moment to say that Days 25 and 26 are the hardest for me in this list!)

Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

I debated on going with my 3 reasons format, but really the bottom line is that this book is about a girl who was raised by her single mother and who had a close relationship with her Grandma.  My Grandpa was also alive growing up, so I also had him.  Both mine and Josie's fathers were out of the picture, and we shared a curiosity about what pieces of us came from him or from our mothers. 

Both of our fathers came back into our lives at later stages, Josie at the end of High School, mine just after.   Both of us had ideals and expectations and were, at times, a little disappointed by the reality. 

I actually identified so much with Josie that it was very hard for me to give this book just the 4 star rating that I did.  It was hard to separate the tears and heartache I felt growing up from what I was reading and rate and review this unbiased.  Still, I know what it's like to be Josie.  And for that reason this book will always be special to me.