The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It

Reviewed by Julie M. Prince for TeensReadToo.com

Gemma Stone will be the world's oldest flower girl. A fourteen-year-old flower girl dressed as a giant swan. Since her bridezilla sister is intent on a wedding theme of "animals who mate for life," Gemma will be paired up with a war-crazy tomboy from her sister's family-to-be and forced to waddle down the aisle.

As the big day approaches, Gemma occupies her time with the school drama club as she attempts to get close to her crush, Nick. Unfortunately, Gemma finds herself practicing for auditions with the fascinating Raven De Head, of the town's most dysfunctional family. Will Gem be able to look beyond Raven's anger and cynicism and her own prejudices to find a new friend--possibly more?

I show more laughed my way through the first several chapters as I got to know the quirky Stone family. Shanahan created a zany cast of characters, and they all had supporting roles for the protagonist.

Gemma delivers in every chapter: loving and sweet, bold and sassy, uncertain and questioning. She struggles to find a balance between her comfortable past and a roller coaster future as she puts childhood behind her and ventures into a new world of personalities and relationships.

Raven's family has the most to teach her, though the lesson of how an abusive family can still have a strong bond is a tough one for Gemma to learn. Any book that can make a reader like me both laugh and cry, as this one does, is worth picking up! show less

Gemma's sister is getting married into a military family. Gemma has also been convinced to audition for the school play. She overcomes a lot in this year but what a wild ride.

I found this to be one of the funniest books I have read in a while. Gemma is great. Her 14-year-old voice is perfect. She has some good moments at the bridal fair (flower girl dresses) and at school and at other's homes. She realizes how shallow so many are including herself. Her dad is a typical dad--embarrassing his kids when not complaining about his lawn and offering advice to others on theirs. Her mom is a typical mom trying to smooth ruffled feathers. Her sister and the 3 R's (read the book) are pains-in-the-behinds. The parents of the others--Nick, Raven, show more and the groom--give Gemma a contrast to her parents.

I loved the story. I loved Gemma and Raven. I especially loved what Gemma learned over that year on love, family, and people. show less

1001 rec., aka My Big Birkett

Mostly fun, with some deep poignancy, for young teens. The biggest issue treated too lightly, imo, and I really don't believe in Brian Debbie, but never mind. The Australian vibe is cool. The Shakespeare is awesome... if I were an English teacher of 14 yos I would have the kids read this with (or before) [b:The Tempest|12985|The Tempest|William Shakespeare|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327793692s/12985.jpg|1359590] and I bet they'd get a lot more out of the play.

3.5 rounded down just because I have a feeling I won't remember it for long.
I will consider more by the author.

The story of an Australian teen working through normal teen stuff: trying to feel comfortable with herself enough to try out for the school play, suffering through the preparations for her obnoxious sister's wedding, and crushing hard on the gorgeous rich kid while not really recognizing her feelings for the Bad Boy Who Lives on the Other Side of the Tracks and Who Also Has Feelings for Her. A fun story with some nicely-handled serious bits as well.

My Big Birkett is Lisa Shanahan’s first full-length novel. She has previously written picture books for young children – and it definitely shows. This book resonates with the kind of delightful, heart-warming humour that all my family’s favourite picture books are fuelled by. Shanahan manages the emotions of her readers effortlessly, making them laugh one minute and nearly cry the next. Without question, the best thing about My Big Birkett is that all its emotions are perfectly balanced – never too much of anything, never too little, and nothing too quickly. The more you react emotionally to your reading, the more you will enjoy this novel.

It took me a few chapters to get used to Shanahan’s characters. Most of them are mere show more caricatures, with one defining attribute that is exaggerated to create the humour. Gemma’s dad is overly stupid, her mum is overly embarrassing, and her best friend Jody is overly gossipy and girly. Only the characters of Gemma, Raven and, to some extent, Nick, are fleshed out in any great detail. Until I settled into this slightly melodramatic cast of characters, I found the action in the novel somewhat unrealistic. After twenty pages or so, it turned from unrealistic to funny, and I was able to enjoy the rest of the book.

The take-home message from My Big Birkett seems to be that ‘life is an emotional roller-coaster, but the ride is always a precious and worthwile thing.’ This book is all about the ups and downs of life that make living so special, and the unexpected joys and sorrows of people who are more than they seem. If you are open minded and light-hearted, then this book might just fill you up with the same warm, fuzzy happiness that it filled me up with.

My Big Birkett is for all those who love to read the odd picture book from the bookshelf of their younger sibling or child. It gets a thumbs up from me – a worthy candidate for this year’s CBC shortlist. I look forward to reading Lisa Shanahan’s future work. show less

Gemma’s sister Donna is getting married to a quiet boy who comes from a family of raving military types. Gemma has to dress up as a swan at the wedding (cause Swans mate for life) but in the meantime, she joins the auditions for The Tempest because she likes one of the Drama group Nick. However she gets paired with Raven De Head to rehearse (one of the terrible De Head family – all boys; 1 in jail, 1 out of jail & the rest constantly in trouble including the father. Gemma’s friendship with Raven, her meetings with Debbie’s future in-laws and a disastrous “date” with Nick (which is actually a meeting at his house with him + 7 other girls) shows G the true meaning of family and love. Funny & sad.
P109-113 Gemma’s mum tells show more her Life is like Top Deck & about the Dog Poo test if you are in love. show less

I mostly found this book terribly interesting because it was the first fictional book I've read that sounds like creative nonfiction that was written by a woman (a noticeable change from all the guys I've been reading who use this style).
I also thought that some of the things that Gemma considers throughout the novel were quiet interesting, as well as the fact that it was set in Australia. Some of it was outrageous, but I guess that would probably help keep a younger reader interested. Over all, most of it was quiet realistic.