The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance

Cynnie has had to be a mother to her younger brother Bill, who has Down Syndrome, since their mother can't seem to stop drinking long anough to take care of him herself. When Cynnie's grandparents take Bill to live with them, she is devasted and starts drinking herself. It takes her attempted kidnapping of Bill and a car crash to get her into an AA program, where she slowly begins to put herself back together.

Very well-done and believable first person narrative of finding comfort from an alcoholic home in that same bottle, and coming back alive. Sad and sweet and recommended.

I'm still not entirely sure I how I feel about this book. It was def a quick read, I read it in almost one sitting, and I enjoyed the subject material. I think it is almost an important book for teens to read. but I hated the writers style. it felt too over simplified. like the author was trying to dumb down the language of a teenager. You can have a narrative sound like a teen without using simple sentences.

Sad but ultimately uplifting book. Cynnie watches her mother drink herself into oblivion every day. She takes care of her little brother Bill, and loves him even though other people think he'll never learn anything. Once he gets taken away by her grandparents, Cynnie has her own struggles with alcoholism to fight.

This was a touching story of a young girls struggle with addiction and tragic family life. I would def. recomend this one for any young teens that are thinking about getting into partying so they can see the ugly side of things.

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

THE YEAR OF MY MIRACULOUS REAPPEARANCE by Catherine Ryan Hyde (also the author of the well-known PAY IT FORWARD) truly illustrates the life of a young teen and her struggle with an alcoholic parent and the ripple-effect of alcoholism.

Cynnie is used to taking care of herself. Not only herself, but also her little brother, Bill, and let's face it, she takes care of her mother, too. Normal life for Cynnie involves cleaning up after her alcoholic mother, making sure one of her many cigarettes doesn't set their house on fire, and tending to her little brother who has Downs Syndrome. Life isn't easy, but it works for Cynnie. Cynnie's only escape is the tree house one of her show more mother's many passing boyfriends helped her build.

Until one day when her grandparents show up and announce that Bill will be living with them. Bill is Cynnie's only reason for living. When he leaves, she discovers the power of alcohol to erase her pain. She becomes her mother - stumbling through the day under the influence and waking the next day to do it all over again.

Even through her drunken haze, Cynnie knows her only hope lies in getting Bill back into her life. She convinces her friend Snake, a victim of his own father's abuse, to help her rescue Bill so they can all escape to a better life. Unfortunately, their plan collapses when Cynnnie wrecks the car. Everyone recovers from their injuries, but Bill ends up back with their grandparents, and Cynnie finds herself on probation and back home with her drunken mother.

Part of Cynnie's court-ordered punishment includes mandatory attendance at AA meetings. The meetings are at first intimidating, but as Cynnie finally discovers through the help of her sponsor, they offer her a way to push her life in a positive direction. Her goal to eventually reunite with her brother gives Cynnie the determination to overcome her fears.

Hyde takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of emotions as Cynnie battles her mother, her grandparents, and her own personal demons. As in real life, nothing is easy and relapses make life seem hopeless at times. Cynnie's story is straightforward and inspirational. show less

Check out my review at:
http://www.shannonsbookbag.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-year-of-my-miraculous-reappe...