My Sister's Wedding (The Maddie Chronicles)

By Hannah R. Goodman

Fifteen-year-old, self help book junky Madeline Hickman feels she has a pretty messed up life. She attributes it all to sex and booze. First, her alcoholic sister Barbara is marrying codependent... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595312659
• ISBN13: 9780595312658
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 140 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Fresh Voice

I am very impressed with Hannah Goodman's My Sister's Wedding. Hannah has captured the inside world of teenagers in a unique voice. Her main character Maddie is vibrant and lively. The story centers on Maddie's family and friends. She has to deal with an alcoholic older sister and a friend who has, in her mind, betrayed their friendship. Maddie's family is dysfunctional and yet capable at the same time. Skeletons come falling out of the closet and what you end up with is an authentic and solid story about a teenage girl trying to figure out life.Waiting for Odysseus

Likeable heroine in a tight spot

Hannah Goodman has created a darling heroine, Maddie, in My Sister's Wedding. Maddie struggles with propping up her drunken sister, fending off her drunken boyfriend, keeping her parents' delusions intact, and trying to find her place when her two best friends pair off and leave her out. Maddie unravels the tangle with the help of her grandmother, another marvelous character, and finds that the high road of self-sacrifice isn't so noble after all. Ms. Goodman makes us feel the gravitational pull of even the most dysfunctional family, and reminds us to value our own.

I've read this book three times!

I can count on one hand the number of books I've read twice. I recently finished a third reading of My Sister's Wedding before moving on to Ms. Goodman's second Maddie book, My Summer Vacation. Since that one moved me to write a review I thought any book that keeps me returning to it deserves a review, as well. As evidenced by its impressive list of awards, this is a formidable first book that showcases a new talent in Young Adult fiction. Goodman has given us a main character we can like and route for. More importantly, Maddie, her family, and her friends are people with whom we all - young or old - can identify. Who hasn't experienced teen peer pressure? Who doesn't have a little dysfunction in his or her family? Who hasn't been touched by alcoholism, or doesn't know someone who has. This book's themes are serious, timely, and handled with a loving parent's sensitive touch. Yet, there is humor here, too, as in the way Maddie consults self-help books, or her commentary on events like her dissatisfaction with a bridesmaid's dress, or the prominent location of a zit. Who can't relate to that? Teachers and counselors, as well as parents need to be familiar with My Sister's Wedding. It should be on school library shelves and recommended reading in teen alcohol programs, or just read by those of us interested in a good story, well written.

Your Sister's Wedding! My Sister's Wedding!

I enjoyed reading this book - it is fresh and direct and humorous and genuine. I could relate to the dysfunctional dynamics of the family and though there are serious problems to be dealt with and people naturally irritate each other, the bottom line is they look to help each other. I like how the main character, Maddie takes us through the events from her point of view - dealing with how can I help and how is all this effecting my life. I like the tie in with self help and realizing she has to take care of herself or at least learn to, on some level. This is great for young people (actually people of all ages) who may need to hear this! I love the opening setting - a wedding is perfect because we all can relate to the family issues that lie just below the surface and any holiday or family event comes along and they (the issues and people) all rise to the occasion! Hannah's opening sentences were descriptively right on the mark comig from a teenage girl....the blue dress being the wrong color and not falling or poofing where it should. I could picture this and smiled. Read and enjoy!

Read this book!

This is a wonderful story about a turbulent and eventually triumphant young adult experience. I can't wait to read the next offering from H. Goodman.