Sure Signs of Crazy

Title: Sure Sings of Crazy

 

Author: Karen Harrington

 

Summary: 12-year-old Sarah Nelson is a one-of-a-kind girl living with her father who struggles with alcohol related problems. As her summer project, she writes letters to her hero and ideal father, Atticus Finch, writes the definitions to unfamiliar words in her diary, and her closest friend is a plant.

But Sarah and her father are two people with a secret; Sarah's mother, is in a mental asylum/prison and has been since Sarah was only about 2. The case with Sarah's mother is so famous, that they are continuously moving once people find out who they are.

But this summer is different for Sarah. As she is growing up more and more, and beginning to get her first crush and maybe even friend-who-is-a-boy, Sarah longs for her mother more and more, and is saddened that she has no relationship with her. Sarah decides she wants to meet her. Sarah navigates towards her goal and tries to find answers, but with so much working against her, Sarah wonders if things will ever be the way she wishes they were.

 

Comments: This was a pretty good book. Sarah is likeable, though I feel she was in a hurry to grow up when in reality, she is only 12 - not even a teen yet.

Other than that, Sarah's story is heartfelt and is very realistic. From Sarah having to navigate the challenges of growing up, to having to wonder and wonder about her mother, who drowned her brother and attempted to drown her when Sarah was only years old.

I found it a little strange that Sarah was trying to pursue a relationship with a boy who was already much older than her.

But, I did like that her role model and her fictional hero is Atticus Finch. I am such a big fan of To Kill a Mockingbird and I am currently reading Go Set a Watchman, so I know how she feels about being close to a character from those wonderful classics. I enjoyed reading her letters and what she chose to write, and I feel like Sarah could've really been a real girl.

I would recommend this book to 11 or 12+, just because of the mental health themes, and some "girl" themes too.

 

Rating: 4 stars