The People We Keep
Book description
Little River, New York, 1994: April Sawicki is living in a motorless motorhome that her father won in a poker game. Failing out of school, picking up shifts at Margo's diner, she's left fending for herself in a town where she's never quite felt at home. When she "borrows" her…
Why read it?
3 authors picked The People We Keep as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
April is the kind of character everyone roots for. She’s sixteen and fending for herself after her crappy father abandoned her in a motor home with no engine.
Teens who grow up like April have grit built into their DNA, and when she takes off for a new life, she soars. The problem is, our past has a way of dragging us backward, and seeing April fight to keep the life and friends she’s built is what makes you keep turning the pages. Oh, and also, she has a beautiful skill. April can sing.
Reading this book is akin to…
From Jamie's list on loving what makes you different.
This novel was extremely moving and emotionally gripping.
The major lesson that stood out to me was that even tragedy can lead to blessings. This resonated with my personal life, and how through all the chaos, the protagonist finds a sense of community and village members she can hold on to. The character was brought to life in a way I have never seen before, and every moment of this book felt so vivid and genuine.
An emotional rollercoaster but beautifully told story. I highly recommend this book.
From Jonathan's list on helping to shape your view of the world and yourself.
I loved this novel about chosen family.
April, the young woman at the center of the book, strikes out on her own without a mother to guide her. She finds surrogates in some older female friends, but even as she seems to settle down with a found family you can see she doesn’t understand herself as worthy of unconditional love.
Faced with becoming a mother herself, April doubts she is up to the task. She also doubts she deserves the friends who stand ready to support her. This is a moving story about the people who will love us no…
From Lena's list on plumbing the gnarly depths of motherhood.
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