Shug

Shug is a charming story about the perils of being a twelve-year-old girl. Shug, also known as Annemarie, struggles with her family where her mother is a distant drinker, her father is in and out of her life, and her older sister is focused more on leaving for college than in her younger sister. When Shug realizes that she has suddenly fallen for her best friend, Mark, she no longer knows how to act around him, and the distance between the two of them grows. Starting junior high as a non-popular girl is also a challenge as she tries to navigate between being herself and still having friends. As her best girl friend Elaine is courted by the popular crowd, Shug finds another friend in the very last place she expected to.

The writing in show more this book is sparklingly clean and clear, making it easy and very pleasurable reading. The characters face challenges that are not easily solved and the world of junior high is as confusing and amazing as it was when I was that age. I truly appreciate someone writing a great book for girls at this age, before they are teenagers but at the same time that so many confusing things are happening with their emotions and their bodies. The character Annemarie or Shug is so well-developed that she becomes real.

Recommend this to preteens as well as teenagers. This is a true tween book, and you know where to find the exact girls for it. Additionally, it is a great book for mothers to share with daughters and have a conversation about the new challenges of becoming a teen and the world of junior high. show less

Twelve-year-old Annemarie Wilcox--nicknamed "Shug," which is short for sugar--is feeling anything but sweet right now. She's entering middle school, her parents are constantly fighting (when they're not drunk or away for work), and things are changing between her and her friends. Mairi, Hadley, and even her best friend Elaine, a Korean American from up north, are eagerly venturing into the world of becoming a woman and meeting boys. But Annemarie wants nothing to do with that world...not unless it includes Mark Findley, her childhood best friend and the guy she recently realizes she's in love with.

Trouble is, Mark doesn't seem to reciprocate her feelings. In fact, Annemarie feels like she hardly sees him anymore, so busy is he with show more hanging out with other people. Instead, she's spending a lot of time tutoring Jack Connelly, which is too bad because they're sworn enemies and hate each other's guts. Annemarie doesn't want to grow up just yet, but she has to learn the hard way (like we all do) that it's a painful and necessary, sometimes heartbreaking, process with light at the end of the tunnel.

I love Judy Blume-esque books that focus on that painfully awkward and difficult transition right before puberty; thus, I LOVED Shug. This is a story that's full of characters that you'll want to be friends with. Annemarie in particular is a spunky heroine, unafraid to say her mind, the girl we all remember being back at that age and the girl we want to befriend. The supporting characters, too, are not caricatures but rather boys and girls (and men and women) with their own problems. I'm especially a fan of Jack right from the start; the dynamics between Annemarie and Jack are great.

If you want a growing-up novel that's more Southern than Judy Blume's and less sex-oriented than Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Alice series, pick up SHUG. You won't regret it. show less

The light and bright, cheerful cover of Shug belies the serious issues within. Even the descriptive blurb suggests a fairly light story of a 7th grade girl's first real crush, on a boy who'd been her best friend since early childhood. And it is about that. But it's also about dealing with an alcoholic mother and virtually absentee father, coping with peer pressure to stay in the in-crowd, even when they're urging you to do things you know are wrong, and close friendships that change and grow distant as we get older. As small asides, pre-teen drinking and child abuse are touched on as well.

This is a good book - it's just much more serious and realistic than I expected from the happy-looking dust jacket. But, as they say, you can't judge show more a book by its cover. Certainly true in this case! show less

Shug starts off the new school year with a crush on her neighbor, a beautiful older sister, embarrassing parents, a group of friends, a group of frenemies, and a whole host of problems. Han writes convincingly about starting junior high, excellently capturing the complexity of early adolescent friendship. Han also captures the essence of early adolescent social changes in concrete events, such as when everyone’s moms stop showing up to an annual pool party, and the girls make a show of not eating in front of the boys; at the end of the pool party, Shug admits this is probably the last year it will even happen, marking the end of an era. Each character is nuanced and well developed, with more being revealed about them as the book show more progresses. No character is perfect, yet no single trait or flaw entirely defines them. Han’s dialogue is fresh, as is Shug’s narration of events. Without the presence of a gimmicky plot device, this novel relies solely upon its characters and their interactions. The plot is defined by several smaller character driven narrative arches, such as Shug’s relationship with her parents or Shug’s friendship with her best friends. Shug’s life isn’t perfect and as such, this novel hits upon some issues, mainly an alcoholic parent. This issue is present without dominating the entire story, and is addressed in a way appropriate for its intended audience. This enjoyable read is highly recommended for girls ages ten to twelve. show less

I had a feeling I would love this book when I learned that the main character, Shug was nicknamed by her mother after Shug Avery from the Color Purple.

Then as I really got into the book, I knew I would love the book because it was on point with feeling, passion and new experiences that 12 year olds go through. Having two at home helps, but Ms. Han’s voice is wonderfully frank and genuine.

Annemarie, a.k.a. Shug to her mother, is going through all the self doubt that any 12 year old has at the start of junior high. She wanted to be part of the in crowd. She saw her best guy friend in a new light and wanted him to be her first kiss. But life had other plans for Annemarie, including a new awareness of the problems within her own family. show more Her mother’s drinking, her father’s long business trips, and her older sister’s lack of caring anymore. It was almost more than she could endure.

This is the kind of book that you can recommend to a broad range of girls and know that they will benefit from the story. It will help girls see themselves as well as realize that they are not alone in the feelings of insecurity, lack of self confidence, but give them hope and assurance that they will make it through all the confusion and come out on the other side with new insight and assuredness. show less

This book was about 12 year old Shug, a girl who is trying hard to hold onto her childhood while her peers are moving headlong into teenagehood. You really feel for the character in this book. Shug takes you with her as her friendships change and take on new meanings. This is a great book for anyone going through the challenges of starting middleschool.

It's never easy starting middle school, but it's even harder when you think you are too tall, too freckled, and way too flat chested plus your best friend is acting like a jerk. Annemarie Wilcox, or Shug as her family calls her, is having a hard time adjusting to twelve. I loved this book. The voice is right on for the target audience. Mary