Rosie and Skate

Another book that wasn't what I was expecting.

I love Jersey beaches/boardwalk. In fact, I just got back yesterday from a vacation in Wildwood, south of Jersey shore. I liked the idea of sisters that live there all year round. So I grabbed it.

I wasn't that impressed, though. It's a really short book, but I had a hard time reading it. It was slow. Not much seemed to happen besides the sisters having boy problems and avoiding each other. They only thing that really stood out was that Skate was melodramatic and Rose was a bit of a softie.

It wasn't a bad read. It was good writing and some interesting side characters. But the storyline was slow and not all that interesting to me and the sisters were a little too cliche. Others may like it, others who don't need romance and something happening as much as I do, but it just wasn't for me.

Rosie is a high school sophomore and her sister Skate (real name Olivia) is a year older. Rosie is boyfriendless and Skate’s boyfriend, Perry, just went off to Rutgers in New Brunswick, NJ. She’s actually living with Perry’s mother, Julia. Rosie is living at home with her aunt Angie. You see, Rosie and Skate’s mother died when they were tiny and their dad is an alcoholic who was just arrested for shoplifting. Rosie goes to group counseling meetings but Skate doesn’t. Yes, very complicated!

Skate’s a free bird, dresses funky, rides her skateboard everywhere, somewhat more worldly than Rosie. Rosie’s quiet, reserved. Rosie’s got a crush on Gus, who leads the meeting, but it appears that Nick, another group member likes Rosie.

Rosie and Skate by Beth Ann Bauman outlines how the girls react to their life over a period of about six months. They both have parent problems. They both have boyfriend problems. Chapters alternate between Rosie and Skate narrating. The book is very readable, but also very predictable. Rosie and Skate are likeable characters as are some of the secondary characters like Frank and Nick. You’ll definitely identify with the boyfriend/girlfriend going off to college/long distance romance thing or the wishing you had a boyfriend thing. ( )

Set on the Jersey Shore, .Rosie and Skate recount one year of their life in high school. in alternating chapters. Their father is in jail, Skate's boyfriend is in college and has no time for Skate and Rosie is developing a relationship with a boy in her support group for children of alcoholics. ( )

This is a character driven story about two sisters coming to terms with their alcoholic father, while at the same time growing up. There really isn't a lot of plot here, so if you're someone who needs plot, you're probably not going to like this. But if you're someone who enjoys reading about how and why a person changes, pick this up. ( )

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Rosie and Skate are sisters. Rosie is a worrier, mostly concerned with holding things together at home and making a good impression. Skate is a free spirit, mostly interested in riding her skateboard down the boardwalk and spending as much time as possible with her boyfriend, Perry. The one thing Rosie and Skate have in common is their alcoholic father.

Rosie finds comfort in attending a support group for teens with alcoholic parents. She thinks it would help Skate come to terms with their father's problem, but Skate thinks the meetings are too full of drama. When their father ends up in jail, Rosie visits him regularly, but again Skate doesn't join her.

Both girls are in high school but live very different lives. Rosie lives at home with an aunt who has come to stay while Dad is incarcerated. Skate lives with Julia, her boyfriend Perry's mom, or with Frank, her boss at the arcade. Perry is away at college, and their long-distance romance is becoming shaky at best.

ROSIE AND SKATE is the story of two sisters finding their way in a not-so-perfect situation. Both care deeply for each other; however, each is dealing with adversity in her own individual style. Despite the sometimes rocky times, the story is filled with concerned and caring people ready to help one another and give each other needed support.

Beth Ann Bauman is the author of a collection of short stories for adults, so this is her first foray into the YA arena. Her writing flows smoothly and evenly and was a pleasure to read. The characters jumped off the page for me and seemed realistic and believable. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future. ( )