My Abnormal Life

By Lee McClain

Book Overview

A foster family allows 15-year-old Rose Graham, who has never attended school, to enjoy a normal high school experience--classes, dating, and parties--even as Rose struggles to reunite with her birth... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0843954663
• ISBN13: 9780843954661
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Leisure Books
• Length: 181 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.0" x 0.5" x 4.3"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

Think I'm Hooked on Lee McClain

Fantasy yet surprisingly realistic in terms of what teens living in foster care go through. A quick and funny read ( LOL type of funny). Could be a fabulous tool for therapists, case managers, adolescent out reach workers, or anyone working with teens or tweens experiencing family problems. I plan to buy the rest of her books and start sharing them with teens on my caseload. Thanks for this cool tool. Beth O'Malley social worker in the foster care system

One more time please.....

One of the biggest ideas that came to mind was the hardship that this girl has to go through. She has a main idea for what is going on around her and the way the author depicts her in the beginning made me feel sorry for her. She seemed to be sad as she was placed in the multiple situations until she found the truth behind her life-long struggle. I loved focusing on the overall feel of her life. I have a soft spot for girls, being one myself. It gives me a sense of peace when I try hard to think about the amazing things you can write down and still understand what is going on around you. This book it short and everything but it gave me a sense of peace. I gave this book four starts instead of five because I want to know what happens next, I usually also like more lengthy books. It was a good read though and I recommend it for girls from 10 to 16. Depending on their maturity and their ideas of teenage life. This book told me a great deal about myself.

Even better

Without giving anything away, not all stories have happy endings. Life is like that. It's also about choices, consequences, and being willing to take steps. While Rose knows nothing about being normal, she knows what she wants, and she's not afraid to try to get it. She'll stand up to her peers, her foster parents, the witch, and her mother to make sure that her family stays together. The story is a wonderful read.

fun for young adults

Homeless fifteen years old Rose Graham was caught shoplifting or else her plight and that of her Downs Syndrome sister Danielle would have remained unknown. The social workers at St. Helen's Home for Girls separate the two siblings though it is obvious that Dani relies heavily on Rose. Dani is placed with the Johnsons where teenager Brian detests the fact that another "Little Orphan Annie" is coming into his family home. Rose is sent to the McGraws whose daughter is a perky freshman cheerleader at Penn State. Rose struggles to adapt to school and not having Dani depend on her. However although feeling some guilt her most difficult adjustment is Brian, a hunk that makes her dream of desires she never had before except that he seems nasty to her and somewhat to Dani. This is an intriguing story line starring an affable nurturing homeless teen struggling with the demands of a nice foster family, school, sibling separation when she is the caretaker, and a teen hunk. The story line is at its best when it centers on Rose's life. When she plays the computer game Altlives, Rose enjoys MY ALTERNATE LIFE using the game to cope with the recent changes, but though interesting to watch her rationalize that also takes the plot away from an even more fascinating reality. Young adults will enjoy the insightful MY ABNORMAL LIFE. Harriet Klausner

Another Fabulous Novel From Lee McClain

Fifteen-year-old Rose Graham has never experienced luxuries in life. In fact, she hasn't experienced much, thanks to the fact that she's spent her childhood and teenagedom taking care of her younger sister - a sufferer of Down Syndrome - shoplifting food, and keeping Social Services away from her family. It's not really fair. After all, how many girls have never had the chance to go to school, date, kiss boys, or get dolled up for a night on the town? Not many. But Rose isn't complaining. That is, not until she's pulled out of her element, and tossed into a foster home in the affluent Linden Falls. Everyone expects her to act normal, but the problem is that she's not normal. Rose wants nothing more than to get back to her old life, where her only problem is trying to figure out whether she'll be able to shoplift enough food for dinner; and to leave the life of first kisses, being gorgeous, high school parties, and writing for the school newspaper. At least she has Brian Johnson's gorgeous shoulders to take her mind off of tthings, as well as the chance to visit her family via the Altlives computer game. But maybe that's not enough... It's hard to find a book that is too entertaining to put down, but Lee McClain has accomplished that feat once again with her novel MY ABNORMAL LIFE. Rose is a fabulous character, whose kind personality shines through on every page. It is wonderful to see an author take the initiative in creating a book series that showcases teenage girls who don't have the easiest lives, yet who make it through anyway, much like Lee McClain has done with MY ALTERNATE LIFE and now MY ABNORMAL LIFE. I only hope to have the opportunity to read more from Lee McClain in the near future, as she presents a fresh new voice in teen lit that will be received by teenagers with open arms. Erika Sorocco Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper