Description
Westchester 2011 Honorable Mention
2013 Saskatoon Book Awards: Young Adult Literature Award nominee
To say Shir is unpopular is a understatement. In fact she's less than homely, therefore a target of casual cruelty in high school. Even though she wishes to remain invisible, bullies find ways of tormenting her, viciously. Worse still, she's an outcast in her own family.
There are two areas where Shir can overcome her negative self image. One is at her part-time job where the kindly Mr. A has hired her as the driver of his grocery delivery truck. The other is at her secret retreat - myplace - where she can sip her beer and watch the river, undisturbed.
But neither sanctuary is safe; Shir discovers that Mr. A's kindness is part of a plot to use her as an accomplice in shady dealings, and her haven by the river is intruded upon by a boy who simply won't go away. While these invasions shatter her initially, both lead to her throwing off the mantle of victim and asserting herself for the first time in her life.
Author Bio
Beth Goobie grew up in Rockwood, ON, where the appearance of a normal childhood hid the secret of an abusive family. Overcoming her traumatic childhood, Beth went to university out West, became a youth residential treatment worker, and also studied creative writing at the U. of Alberta. She went on to become an award-winning author of 23 novels and books of poetry, mainly YA, including Flux and the CLA award-winning Before Wings. Beth makes her home in Saskatoon.
Review text
"This taut thriller showcases the award-winning Canadian author’s gift for creating memorable teen characters who confront tough issues alone—in this case, teen bullying, portrayed in gritty, claustrophobic detail by its victim...Goobie’s third-person voice relentlessly puts readers directly in Shir’s head, pulling no punches in creating a memorable, believable character." -- Kirkus Reviews
"This book will be enjoyed by those who like to root for the outsider and are not afraid of reading edgy material. This is a good addition to young adult collections." -- VOYA
Biographical note
