Briana's Gift

by Lurlene McDaniel

Book Overview

Thirteen-year-old Casey's mother always said that Casey's sixteen-year-old sister marched to the beat of a different drummer. But it isn't until Briana runs away with an older boy that Casey begins to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385731604
• ISBN13: 9780385731607
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.5" x 7.0"
• Age Range: 11 to 15 years
• Grade Range: Grades 6 to 10

Customer Reviews

A West Virgina Librarian

This was a great book it tells the story of Brianna her gift was her baby girl. It also tells the story of how her sister an ill mother handle the lose of Brianna but how they band together to care for Brianna's Baby.

HOLY COW POOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the book's really GOOD!fantastic! It is about a girl named briana who thinks she's in love with a guy,who is reall a no good loser,and she moves to L.A. Her mother and her sister Casey are devastated but they get through it. then Briana shows up on unexpected 8 months later and sh's pregnet! Her mom wants her to give the baby to people who want to adopte but BRiana doesn't want that to happen. Trajedy strikes later and Casey feels lost.Her sister was always there for her, but now Casey need to be there for Briana and her baby. Can a 14 year ols handle it? Lurlene di a wonderful job on this book and if you liked this book, you should read other books by Lurlene McDaniel. She is amazing!!!!!!!!

Another absorbing read from this talented author

Thirteen-year-old Susanna (Sissy to her family) hasn't had much luck with the month of December. When she was six, her dad died in a horrible accident at work. At eight, her mother was diagnosed with a debilitating arthritis. And most recently, her spirited older sister, Briana, decides to run off to Los Angeles with her boyfriend. So this year's December also will be a depressing one. Briana sends postcards at first, but all too soon there's no word at all. Sissy depends on her best friends, Melody and Stu, to help her through the lonely days of missing her sister, and practicing her flute passes the time as well. Somehow life goes on. Then, just before school starts the following year, a pregnant Briana shows up at the front door asking to come home. Briana's boyfriend, who she's better off without, is long gone; she absolutely refuses to track him down for child support. Briana is determined to make a good life for her baby and soon gets a cashier job at Wal-Mart, saving up for everything her baby will need. Sissy is so ecstatic that her sister is home, and she's really looking forward to becoming an aunt. Her relationship with Briana has grown some as well. Instead of tagging around after Briana, admiring Briana from her little sister status, they are more like friends, pouring over baby books and following the baby's progress together. Sissy even volunteers to redecorate the new nursery, painting the walls lilac with green trim, and she loves to play her flute for the unborn baby. But without warning, Briana falls deathly ill, and Sissy and her mom are faced with some impossible decisions. To make life more complicated and confusing, Sissy's friendships with Melody and Stu are changing; Melody seems distant, and Sissy starts seeing Stu differently, in a "guy-type" way. She wishes that their friendship could return to normal, but deep down she knows it will never be the same. This year's December approaches with even more sadness and despair than ever --- and with one of the greatest gifts ever offered. Lurlene McDaniel has written quite a few novels for young people, including The Angels in Pink trilogy and LETTING GO OF LISA. As with her previous stories, BRIANA'S GIFT centers on serious life-changing events that really hit the heart hard. McDaniel's characters are as life-like as her plots, and her storylines keep the pages turning. Another winner from this talented author! --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT and THE BLACK POND.

Another warm McDaniel story of life-threatening problems and new beginnings.

Lurlene McDaniel's BRIANA'S GIFT tells of an older sister who runs away with an older boy, then returns home alone and pregnant. When Briana becomes ill, Sissy sees her mother's choice as wrong - but can she advocate a different course at the holidays? Another warm McDaniel story of life-threatening problems and new beginnings.

Briana's Gift

Thirteen-year-old Susanna (Sissy to her family) hasn't had much luck with the month of December. When she was six, her dad died in a horrible accident at work. At eight, her mother was diagnosed with a debilitating arthritis. And most recently, her spirited older sister, Briana, decides to run off to Los Angeles with her boyfriend. So this year's December is a depressing one as well. Briana sends postcards at first, but all too soon, there's no word at all. Sissy depends on her best friends, Melody and Stu, to help her through the lonely days of missing her sister, and practicing her flute helps pass the time as well. Somehow, life goes on. Then, just before school starts the following year, Briana shows up at the front door asking to come home. But she's not alone --- she's pregnant. Briana's boyfriend is long gone, and she's better off without him; she absolutely refuses to find him for child support. Briana is determined to make a good life for her baby, and soon gets a cashier job at Wal-mart, saving up for everything her baby will need. Sissy's so ecstatic with her sister home, and she's really looking forward to becoming an aunt. Her relationship with Briana has grown some as well. Instead of tagging around after Briana, admiring her from her little sister status, they are more like friends, pouring over baby books and following the baby's progress together. Sissy even volunteers to redecorate the new nursery, painting the walls lilac with green trim, and she loves to play her flute for the unborn baby. But without warning, Briana falls deathly ill, and Sissy and her mom are faced with some impossible decisions. To make life more complicated and confusing, Sissy's friendships with Melody and Stu are changing; Melody seems distant, and Sissy finds she's seeing Stu in a different way, in a "guy-type" way. She wishes their friendship could return to normal, but deep down, she knows it will never be the same. This year's December approaches with even more sadness and despair than ever...and with one of the greatest gifts ever offered. Author Ms. Lurlene McDaniel has written quite a few novels for young people including THE ANGELS IN PINK trilogy and LETTING GO OF LISA. As with her other stories, BRIANA'S GIFT centers around serious life changing events that really hit the heart hard. Ms. McDaniel's characters are as life-like as her plots, and her storylines keep the pages turning. Another winner from this talented author! --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of Finding My Light and The Black Pond ---Courtesy of Teenreads.com