S.T. Underdahl

Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

You would never think that someone you love would end up with Alzheimer's or dementia. But when it strikes them, you hope and pray that their case will not be as bad as the ones you have heard of before.

For Lucy Kellogg, that is exactly how she felt. When she first heard that her grandmother showed signs of Alzheimer's, she couldn't believe it. How is it that someone so poised and cultured could end up with this disease? Doubtful at first that Grandma Lucy even had the symptoms of Alzheimer's, Lucy's parents decide to move her in with them. As the time spent together with Grandma Lucy continued, signs were looming over the family, and yet they still weren't too sure or convinced. Or they just didn't want to believe it.

Lucy has even more problems she has to worry about. Her best friend, Sukie, made the cheerleading squad, which was part of her plan for the two of them to become popular. Since Lucy didn't make it, Sukie has less time to spend with her, and more time with her new batch of friends. If that doesn't put a strain on their friendship, the new guy at work just so happens to be the one who broke Sukie's heart a couple of years ago. And he seems pretty interested in Lucy, even though he is completely off-limits.

Her life was perfect before, but now everything is changing. Can Lucy take it all in stride, or will it be too much for her? Lucy knows she has to be strong for her family, but that's easier said then done.

Underdahl creates a gripping and poignant novel that centers around a girl who slowly becomes the heroine we all look up to. The emotions and actions of a family who has just found out that their loved one could possibly have Alzheimer's is accurately portrayed. Readers will ultimately REMEMBER THIS.… (altro)

Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

Everyone hopes that they have a normal family with very little or no secrets among them, and for Josey Muller, it seemed like she had that life. She had a mother and father who loved her and two brothers who, although they can sometimes drive her crazy, care for her, too. But then Josey's life turns upside down when her parents tell her that her brothers aren't the only siblings that Josey has.

Josey also has a much older sister, Audrey, the daughter that her parents had to put up for adoption, hoping that she would get a better life. Audrey is getting married and thought that this would be the perfect chance to find her birth parents and possibly even meet up with them. At first Josey is perfectly fine with the whole ordeal; that is, until the day she will finally get to see her sister draws near, and the entire situation becomes all too real for her.

Josey's entire life that she was so used to was officially going to change. She wasn't going to be the only daughter and sister in her family, and her parents are beginning to forget about how she feels. What's worse is how Josey's dream of becoming a psychologist has already been accomplished by her older sister, which only makes Josey feel inferior to Audrey.

The only way Josey can deal with these occurrences is to take a step back and truly see not only how she feels but also how her sister feels. But will Josey give this situation a chance?

THE OTHER SISTER was completely real and meaningful. Having Josey as the main character just gives the book the perfect tone it needs to truly capture the essence that a teenager would feel when something unexpected pops up in their life. A very unique story with an ending that was surprising and perfectly written, THE OTHER SISTER was a great debut from S. T. Underdahl.… (altro)