Tuesday, April 12, 2016

J: Joan Lowery Nixon & THE OTHER SIDE OF DARK

For the Blogging from A to Z Challenge this month, I am blogging about authors whose work, mostly YA, I read when I was younger. 

"I wish that when I was young I had asked my parents and grandparents to tell more and more stories about their lives before I became part of them. I wish I had listened intently so that I could remember each and every word. I wish I had written their stories to keep forever." -Joan Lowery Nixon, THE MAKING OF A WRITER

The first Joan Lowery Nixon book I read is THE OTHER SIDE OF DARK (Delacorte, YA)  When the story begins, Stacy, 17, wakes up from a coma. She learns she has been in a coma for four years after being shot in her backyard by an intruder when she was 13. Stacy is devastated to learn that the intruder also shot and killed her mother. Only Stacy can identify her mother's killer, if only she could remember who he was. The killer knows Stacy has woken from her coma and is one of the many people now reaching out to her...

While grieving the loss of her mother, Stacy also mourns the loss of four years. People around her are not the same as she remembered them. Her older sister got married and is now pregnant. Her best friend has another best friend. Even her own body seems foreign to her, as she has physically transformed from a girl into a woman while in the coma.

Have you read THE OTHER SIDE OF DARK? If you had to fall into a coma for four years, what and who do you hope to wake up to?

15 comments:

Stephanie Faris said...

I haven't read that one...it sounds like one I would have liked, though. Did you ever read a book called I'm Christy? For some reason that one stuck with me. I'm sure if I read it again today, it wouldn't be half as good as I remembered!

M.J. Fifield said...

O. M. G.

I LOVED Joan Lowery Nixon when I was in school. My sister and I read all her books—including that historical fiction series she did about the Orphan Trains.

I think THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DARK is still on my bookshelf somewhere.

Tasha Duncan-Drake said...

I haven't read this one, sounds traumatic. Given how much we change in adolescence it must be the worst possible time to lose.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

Pat Hatt said...

Never read this one at my sea. Not sure who I'd want to wake me up, as long as I woke up though I'd be happy.

S.P. Bowers said...

I loved this book when I was younger. You've been putting up quite a few books that influenced me. Can't wait to see what else you've got for April.

Sunday Visitor said...

Never heard of this author, will check out her work. Great post!

Sunday Visitor said...

Never heard of this author, will check out her work. Great post!

The Silver Fox said...

Looks like quite an exciting read!

Liz A. said...

It doesn't sound familiar, but I read so many books back in the day, I might have run across it. From 13 to 17 would be the worst time to be in a coma. Yikes.

Jo said...

A horrible thought to wake up after losing 4 years. I do so agree with not recording the tales told by parents and grandparents. I often think of things I would like to ask them.

Jennifer R. Hubbard said...

I think I did read this--I know I read some Joan Lowery Nixon, and the plot sounds familiar.

Doree Weller said...

Oh my goodness, I remember this book! There's a line in it where she puts her jeans in the dryer and then puts them on snugly. I have no idea why that stuck with me (I remember other things too, but those are spoilers!). I had no idea what the book was called, though. Thanks for helping me remember. Now I just have to see if the library has it...
@DoreeWeller from
Doree Weller’s Blog

Elizabeth said...

That sounds like a good read. I concur with the author's quote, I wish I would have written down some of my grandma's stories.

JazzFeathers said...

I haven't read this book, but it sounds REALLY good. I'll hunt it down :-)

@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - Jazz Age Jazz

Kent Sarcol said...

This is one of my favorite book so far. Right after I read the first chapter I was thrilled upto the last. *thumps up*
Great job for Joan Lowery Nixon. Indeed she is a great writer. May her soul rest i peace

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