Changing My Wardrobe
by Deb Hanrahan
Publisher: Philyra Publishing
Pages: 258
Source: e-book courtesy of Reading Addiction Blog Tours & Deb Hanrahan in exchange for a fair and honest review
Available as of May 26, 2011
Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Lindsey, a high school freshman, views her new school as a place to start over. With the help of her friends, she hopes that a change in her wardrobe will prompt a change in her image. She has some success until her long-time nemesis, Avery, reminds Lindsey of her place. Without asking for help from the adults, the main character and her friends struggle to manage the bullying. Despite their efforts, tensions rise, and people get hurt. The ending of this book will leave the reader shocked and heartbroken.
Changing My Wardrobe is a cautionary tale about the immutable problem of bullying. This story not only looks at bullying from the victim's point of view but also explores the motives behind the aggressors’ actions. Changing My Wardrobe demonstrates the fluid and complex nature of bullying by shining a light on the contributing factor of social media.
Rating:
My Review:
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Changing My Wardrobe. Deb Hanrahan created a very realistic story that depicts what can happen with the constant verbal onslaught of negative comments towards another.
It's the night before Lindsey's first day of high school and she wants this year to be different from her experience in junior high. She invites Teeny over to pick out an outfit that will help change her image. Even though she is uncomfortable in what she's wearing, she goes to school and has a successful first day. Little does she know that it won't stop Avery's harsh words.
There are so many characters that held a big influence in this book, but I'm only going to talk about four of them. First we have our main character Lindsey. All throughout junior high she was made fun of and called a mouse by Avery. She lacked confidence and changing her clothes gave her the confidence she needed. There were some tough choices she had to make and I understand the reasons behind those choices. Her best friend, Teeny, was such a strong character. She wanted to do things her way and not involve any adults to figure out a solution. Avery was the epitome of a bully. She made snotty unwarranted comments and thought she could lie her way through everything. Finally, we have Marco. The boy who doesn't just see through Lindsey, he actually sees her. After spending time with her he finally makes Lindsey understand that people like her, she's just too blind to see it.
Changing My Wardrobe has left me with mixed feelings. On one hand it was a fantastic book that holds a life lesson or two. On the other hand, the summary didn't lie; I was shocked and upset by how it had to end for those lessons to be taught. Overall, I enjoyed reading it and understand that the ending had to be the way it was for any impact on the reader to be made. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages, especially teenagers.
About the Author:
Deb Hanrahan lives with her husband and three teenagers in the Chicagoland burbs. After graduating from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Chemistry, she worked at a nuclear power plant for five years. She then left her career to stay at home with her three kids.
Seeminly, overnight, she went from being crazy-busy to having way to much time on her hands. With her husband working long hours and her kids pursuing their own lives, she had to reinvent herself. So, she decided to write a book that she always wanted to write. Changing My Wardrobe is her first novel.
Giveaway Time!
Deb Hanrahan has so kindly offered one
lucky person an e-book copy of
Changing My Wardrobe.
Open internationally.
Giveaway Policy Applies
Ends May 20 @ Midnight EST
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising*
2 comments:
Great review, I too was left with mixed emotions after reading. Remembering my past from being bullied, and how much more harsh kids of today can be with it. But it was a fantastic read, and I past the book onto my daughter who is now a Hanrahan fan. Thanks for the review!
Thanks so much for reading CMW and writing a great review!
Post a Comment