This book was so much better than I thought it would be. This is not typically the genre that I read but I am so glad that I received an ARC copy of this book.

It was amazing. Couldn't put it down. It's such a down to earth book and is relatable on so many levels. The writing is beautiful and I fell in love with the characters, especially crazy Mr. Adams. I loved that man! I found myself laughing out loud because of some of the things that he said. I will definitely be interested in reading more books by this author. ( )

As someone who had a rocky childhood moving from small town to city, I really connected with Kit's troubles adjusting. The book is well written and the humor through the book keeps the reader interested and makes the emotional moments even more powerful!

This is one of the most touching , funny, and poignant coming of age stories I've read in a quite some time. Kit hasn't had an easy childhood, her father is an AWFUL drunk, he screams, yells, breaks things and has never provided a warm and loving life for Kit or her mother. When a two year ban on fishing is imposed, her father loses her job and Kit and her family are forced to move out of beautiful idyllic Parson's Bay into the city with her uncle. She has to leave behind her beloved Nan, her best friend, and her mentor.

Once in the city Kit has a hard time adjusting, she can't afford new clothes and must go to school looking like a bumpkin, in no time at all the kids are calling her "baygirl." As if that weren't bad enough her unemployed father starts drinking even more and gets her mother fired from her part time job by showing up drunk to her work. With nowhere to hide, Kit starts to visit the crazy old British neighbor next door, Reginald, and befriend him. Slowly things start to get better, she gets a friend, a wonderful boyfriend who writes her poetry, and her uncle starts to make an effort at getting out of his depression. But throughout all this her father never puts down the bottle. What will it take him to quit? How can she love a man that she has no respect for?

The story takes a dramatic twist at the end, but it doesn't leave you wanting. It's a truly marvelous book that
address issues such as: alcoholism, friendship, redemption, and above all forgiveness. A great debut young adult novel by Heather Smith, I eagerly await reading her future writing endeavors. ( )

I received an ARC of Baygirl through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. Kit Ryan is a 16 year old girl growing up in the tiny Newfoundland fishing village of Parsons Bay. Kit's life is a bit turbulent with her alcoholic father and a mother who refuses to stand up for herself. Thankfully, she has a good support system of friends and family to help her through the tough times. When the 1992 cod moratorium causes her dad to lose his livelihood they are forced to leave their home and move to the city with her uncle. As expected the transition is rocky but eventually Kit develops friendships and has people that are there for her. Baygirl was an enjoyable read and had a cast of colorful and memorable characters. I especially liked Mr. Adams he was hilarious! Some of the witty exchanges between he and Kit made me laugh out loud. I was especially fond of the scene where Kit reads him the tea cozy poem. In addition to having great characters that are easy to connect with this book deals with the serious issues of alcoholism, death and financial struggles in a realistic way that will resonate with teens. The issues aren't glossed over they are real, gritty and honest which definitely wins points with readers. Interesting and effective reading that will keep you thinking long after you finished the final chapter ( )

Ever since she can remember, Kit has always used her Nan’s house as an escape from the toxic spill of her father’s alcoholism. And while Kit’s family always just scraped by, their Newfoundland fishing village has been home. Even if it meant running a couple houses down to hang out with her grandmother until her father’s buzz faded, at least Kit belonged somewhere. But everything changes when her father loses his job and the family must move in with Kit’s uncle, himself jobless and trying to work through the grief of his wife’s sudden death. Suddenly, Kit can no longer fly under the radar, and her shabby clothes, shabbier neighborhood, and status as a newcomer make her long for the familiarity of home, even with all its familiar disappointments. If there’s one thing that might make Kit change her mind about the new city, it’s Elliot, but his attention comes with its own risks, too. . . . . Author Heather Smith presents a story set in a place most US readers aren’t familiar with, but most will recognize Kit’s agony in trying to hide the parts of her family life she doesn’t want kids at her new school to see. The writing is a bit soft, with Kit telling the reader what happens and how she feels about her life rather than just showing us. Also, other than the convenient use of the 1992 cod moratorium that forces Kit’s father to lose his job, there doesn’t seem to be a real reason for the book’s time period and nothing that makes its setting in the 1990’s stand out. Overall, an average coming-of-age story for a girl from a working-class family. ( )