Calling Home
Dec 23, 2009
Calling Home
Author: Janna McMahan
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: 2008
ISBN: 978-0-7582-2196-4
The Dew reviewed Janna's newest book, The Ocean Inside, in September. That was a well written book with a premise that one hopes will never happen to your family.
This book has a premise that could very well happen to any family. Realistically written in a manner that keeps you believing in it and fully engaged.
As in The Ocean Inside, the story revolves around a teenage girl stepping out into life and trying to discover herself. Shannon is 15, living with a bitter mother who does not understand why her husband walked out on the family, and a brother who's trying to escape to college but still do the right thing by the family as he now considers himself the man of the house.
Shannon has skipped a grade in school and struggles between high school life while being younger than everyone else, an overprotective mother, friends who are older and more advanced in life experiences and the deep desire to get away and not find herself in the same trap her mother apparently fell into.
Unfortunately, while trying to keep up with her friends, she does start to fall into that same trap. Tragedy occurs that is unexpected and a hidden family secret comes out that is truly horrifying and frightening.
This story is about Shannon. The question that draws you through the book is will she actually end up falling in that trap and never achieving her personal goals, or will she continue to grow, strengthen and overcome the obstacles that jump into her path and also the obstacles she places there herself.
This book struck me hard as I have a daughter that will be Shannon's age in a few short years and I can only imagine these scenarios perhaps attempting to make their way into her life.
