Mary Anderson (1) (1939–)

Sarah has a super mom. In fact, she has just about everything a girl could ask for: looks, brains, popularity, a happy home and plenty of spending money. So why does she dream of murdering her mother?
The nightmare is always the same. And it's so strong it holds her in its grip throughout the next day until she is driven to steal something - one special item that attracts her irresistibly. But why?
Now her eccentric aunt Kat, a relative Sarah has never met, has come for a visit. And suddenly show more the nightmares get worse. Sarah starts sleepwalking, she feels herself losing control. That's when her extra-brainy friend Josie steps in...and together they discover the amazing, tormenting secret locked in Sarah's past. show less

This one grabbed me from the first sentence, “Does a person know when they are going crazy?” Sarah thinks that because she keeps having nightmares about killing her mother but her nightmares have elements of Alice in Wonderland to them, every time she has these nightmares she shoplifts something the next day and now she is also sleepwalking. The dreams themselves were interesting to me of how your subconscious uses something familiar like the Alice in Wonderland story to try to help you show more deal with things you’d rather forget.

I think I may have read this book years ago, but I still enjoyed this story very much, even though I did figure out one thing the actual reveal was more than I was expecting it to be. This is also a story of sisters and family and friendship since Sarah’s friend Jessie tries to help her find out the root of her nightmares. I really enjoyed this book.

Audio production: Xe Sands narrated this with perfect inflection in all the voices I never wondered who was talking; she made each character unique and true to their personality. I was impressed by the narration as it enhanced this story very much. I will definitely be listening to more by Xe Sands!

I highly recommend this book and give the audiobook a try you won’t be disappointed!

4 ½ Stars show less

FotL Chanute

The red cover shown is just wrong, in detail and in vibe. The blue cover, https://www.paperbackswap.com/Rise-Fall-Teen-Mary-Anderson/book/0689307675/, is better - more appealing, and much more true to the vibe. Though details are still wrong.

Short chaotic book. Not sure of the role of some of the episodes. Not sure of the abrupt ending. But it's one that a person who read it as a young teen is likely to remember for a long time. And as soon as I listed this on paperbackswap, it show more was snapped up.

I wonder if it turned anyone on to Woody Allen? I was never into him... um, maybe the actual style of the book is an homage? I mean, better at humor, but wanting to say something meaningful, as a quote from the director indicated was his goal? show less

Desolate when their favorite soap opera couple is killed off, two lonely girls find themselves caught up in real life excitement when they spot the pair on Fire Island and decide to follow them.