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Parents' Guide to

Tell Me Something Real

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Taut, compelling drama about teen coping with mom's illness.

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What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Calla Devlin's debut novel is taut and well-structured, with a believable narrator teens will relate to and a surprising twist on the terminal-illness story that grabs you and doesn't let go. Tell Me Something Real is about the impact of her mother's illness on Vanessa and her family, focusing on their ability -- or lack of it-- to cope with illness and heal after betrayal. The patient and the illnesses are seen exclusively through the family's eyes, so the medical issues, or what it's like for the patient, aren't explored.

The well-developed characters, air of mystery, splash of teen romance, and unexpected turn in the story keep the pages turning. Readers will root for Vanessa as she tries to keep herself, her love life, and her family together without giving up her dreams for the future.

Book Details

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