Tag Archives: Courtney Sheinmel

Edgewater

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edgewater

Author: Courtney Sheinmel
Publisher: Amulet Books
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Source:  BEA 2015

Goodreads:  Lorrie Hollander used to be a rich girl who spent her money on boarding school and equestrian camp. But that was before. It’s been twelve years since Lorrie’s mother skipped town and left Lorrie and her sister in the care of her unstable aunt Gigi. Together they live in a decaying mansion called Edgewater, the eyesore in a town of extraordinary wealth and privilege.

While Lorrie is desperately trying to keep her family from collapse, she meets Charlie, the son of an esteemed senator. Terrified that he will learn the truth about her, she holds him at a distance. But Charlie’s family is hiding something, too. And Lorrie could never have imagined how their secrets, and their lives, are inextricably bound.

Courtney Sheinmel’s Edgewater is a gripping story of scandal and romance, shame and redemption, and how one girl must come to terms with a shocking past in order to understand who she truly is.

Ope’s Opinion:  From the beginning I was invested in Lorrie’s life.  Susannah and Aunt Gigi drove me nuts!!  I wanted them to “wake up” and see the mess around them.  I felt sorry for Lorrie dealing with both of them.

There were a lot of interesting twists in the story.  I did not see most of them coming.

I really liked that Lorrie’s romance was only a part of the book.  She had her horse, her friends and had to deal with her family.  It made her a well rounded person – not one dimensional.

I am excited to see what Courtney writes next – and I hope it will be soon!!

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Stella Batts: None of Your Beeswax

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Author: Courtney Sheinmel
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press               stella
Genre: Children’s books
Source: BEA

 

 

 

Goodreads:  Can you keep a secret? Stella Batts has a lot of secrets to keep these days–there’s the secret of what really happened to her little sister’s pet fish, and there’s the secret school project she’s working on with her friend Lucy, and there’s the secret on the second floor of her family’s candy store. Actually, Stella doesn’t know the candy store secret yet, because her dad won’t tell her. Even though she’s eight years old, and that’s old enough to be trusted! Stella hasn’t told any of her other secrets all week, and some of her other friends are feeling left out. But that’s the problem with being told a secret: You have to keep it!

Em and Pey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ope’s Opinion:  These are my girls I will be reading this book to.  This book is so good adults will enjoy reading to children.  Later those children will enjoy reading it themselves.  

Stella learns about keeping secrets – when to keep them, when to share them, and who to share them with.  It is a hard concept for children to learn.  I thought there were several good real life examples in this book.

I am interested in reading more of Stella Batts books.

Rating:  5 – This book is so good it will be passed on and on and on….