Between the Notes
-
-
4.7 • 9 Ratings
-
-
- $7.99
-
- $7.99
Publisher Description
After Ivy is forced to move to "the wrong side of the tracks" due to economic hard times, she discovers that not everything—or everyone—is what they seem, even herself. Fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen will love this funny, poignant, and relatable story.
When Ivy Emerson's family loses their house—complete with her beloved piano—the fear of what's to come seizes her like a bad case of stage fright. Forced to give up her allowance, her cell phone, and the window seat in her lilac-colored bedroom, Ivy moves with her family from her affluent neighborhood to Lakeside, aka "the wrong side of the tracks." Hiding the truth from her friends—and the cute new guy in school, who may have secrets of his own—seems like a good idea at first. But when the bad-boy-next door threatens to ruin everything, Ivy's carefully crafted lies begin to unravel . . . and there is no way to stop them.
Once things get to the breaking point, Ivy turns to her music, some surprising new friends, and the trusting heart of her disabled little brother. And she may be surprised that not everyone is who she thought they were . . . including herself.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When 16-year-old Ivy Emerson and her family are forced to move to the poor side of town after the bank forecloses on their home, Ivy s charmed life is replaced by one in which her family is crammed into a shoebox-sized house, she has no money to go out with her friends, and her mother shops for groceries at a food bank. Debut author Roat uses the intensity of major life changes to force Ivy to reevaluate everything she believes about herself, her friends, and her family. Ivy s understandable bitterness and shame eventually give way to discoveries about what is and isn t important in life, especially in the case of her neighbor Lennie, who has a reputation as her school s most notorious druggie, but turns out to be kind and generous. As Ivy tries to choose between Lennie and a boy who represents a connection to her former life, the novel s romantic and economic stakes feel too transparently tied to an overarching message about looking beyond appearances and material wealth. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
a journey with Ivy that doesn’t stay in the stereotypical
What would you do if your life suddenly turned upside-down and you were suddenly in the ‘other guys’ shoes? That’s just what happens to Ivy when her father’s investments go awry and they have to leave the well-to-do neighborhood and many of the extras that they have all become accustomed to.
With two younger siblings, one that is disabled and needs multiple therapies, Ivy’s attitude at home is greatly different from that at school. At school, she lies about her circumstances and family situation because she believes her popularity and friendships all revolve around status and things. At home, Ivy is resentful but helpful, looking to work and help out where she can, even being willing to give up luxuries to help her parents.
But, when the risk of being outed at school from her next-door neighbor becomes a reality and threatens Ivy’s carefully constructed façade, and could endanger her new relationship with James, Ivy has to do something….
Slow to start, Ivy doesn’t really develop into someone worth following for a few chapters, early on it is typical resentment, worry and the carefully constructed plan to not tell any of her ‘friends’ what has happened. The author allowed us to see Ivy’s life as a “rich girl” was laden with pitfalls and image-centered affirmations. While moving to an area of more modest means (and let us NOT confuse her situation with families that struggle daily to keep the lights on, their children fed and clothed and a roof over their heads), Ivy starts, slowly, to see that things are just that, and the real measures of a life are in family, love, friends and those little moments that bring smiles.
I applaud Sharon Huss Roat for taking us on a journey with Ivy that doesn’t stay in the stereotypical and show Ivy’s true willingness to pitch in at home, her love for her family and the growth she displayed from beginning to end. With a couple of romance-like moments that brought which boy will she choose moment before the end, the real message of embracing who you truly are is important and shines through the pages.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility