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Hand Me Down Audiobook
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(3.03) - 406 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A recipient of the Alva Englund fellowship and the Maurice Prize for fiction, Melanie Thorne penned this tender debut brimming with evocative prose. At 14, Elizabeth Reid is searching for a place she and her sister Jaime can call home. Neglected by a father with more vices than work ethic and ignored by a mother bent on starting a new life with an ex-con, Liz bounces between distant relatives in California and Utah. But before Liz can find peace, she must come to terms with the ugly deal she struck to ensure Jaime's safety-one that has a hold on them both.
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"While I enjoyed this book tremendously, it was also heartbreaking. Liz is the product of a dysfunctional family. Her mothers first husband beat them, her second husband was in jail for sexual assault and is constantly wanting to make her his next conquest. When he returns from jail, the courts do not allow him to live in the same house as Liz and her younger system. When lizs mother must choose, Liz and her sister are left homeless and at the mercy of their drunken abusive father or. Aeiousky relatives where they know they live there because of duty. They are never really at home. While the storyline is not a happy one, liz's spirit and sarcasm are admirable and hilarious. It is hard to believe that a mother would pick such a obvious loser over her own children, but Liz's mother Linda is all kinds of stupid and dysfunctional as well. Without giving too much away, things improve and the ending is satisfactory. Really liked this one."
— Maggie61 (4 out of 5 stars)
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“A sad, compelling read.”
— People -
“Thorne writes convincingly from an adolescent’s perspective, admitting to having mined her own experiences. The family is believably and sadly dysfunctional, and readers will empathize with each character through their highs and lows…This is an intriguing first outing by a talented new writer.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Debut novelist Thorne is at her best in the evocative descriptions of place—the frozen beauty of a Utah winter, the prosaic décor of a suburban household…Thorne deals sensitively with a difficult topic, and the novel’s adolescent perspective is sure to find popularity with YA audiences.”
— Library Journal -
“Difficult to read, but impossible to put down—this is perhaps the best way to describe Melanie Thorne’s debut…readers vividly see and experience right along with Liz, thanks to Thorne’s sharp storytelling…Hand Me Down is Thorne’s first novel…it hopefully will not be her last.”
— Book Page
Awards
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One of the Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2012
Hand Me Down Listener Reviews
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" For anyone that has had a troubled childhood, this book is a much read. You will be able to see yourself in the main character. It's a great story about survival and family. "
— Tiff, 2/6/2014 -
" Hand Me Down is a sad story of how a tough girl gets tougher, to save her sister from the hard experiences that have come close to ruining her. This protagonist is a force to be reckoned with, no weak victim and no explosive rebel. In the end, it's this teenager's willingness to be patient and ability to hold everything together, while the adults around her are making such horrible, disgusting choices, that saves both girls. "
— Lydia, 1/30/2014 -
" This book touched a lot on child abuse, similar to a few books I've previously read. Liz, the main character you can't help but take a liking to her, and how often parents never put their children first when they are suppose to. "
— C, 1/12/2014 -
" Intense story of an abused child. You won't forget this story and if you care for children, it will be a wake-up call. Must Read "
— Zan, 11/30/2013 -
" This book was wonderful. It showed great courage in a very bad situation! "
— Carol, 10/5/2013 -
" The story follows a 14 year old girl whose mother chooses a man over her own children. As a result you watch Liz get tossed around. It's sort of sad and maddening all at once. I just want to smack the Mom. "
— Lynne, 6/2/2013 -
" A great emotion tough as nails memoir/ fictional tale of Elizabeth living through a broken family. I loved Elizabeth's character, very defined and to the point where the reader could recognize her turning point in life and one step close to adulthood. Melanie Thorne is some one to watch. "
— Sana, 5/21/2013 -
" A well done book for young adults on surviving dysfunctional family dynamics. "
— Jaclyn, 3/24/2013 -
" Hand Me Down was real, and spot on accurate. It was told in the voice of a 14 year old, forced to grow up too fast due to a mother who chooses a sex offender boyfriend turned husband over her daughters. It was in turn parts sad and hopeful. I am looking forward to whatever else the author writes. "
— Mel, 2/13/2013 -
" Loved it at the beginning, then it got really repetitive so the end was kind of lackluster. Overall enjoyed it though. "
— Caitlin, 9/18/2012
About Melanie Thorne
Melanie Thorne earned her MA in creative writing from the University of California, Davis, where she was awarded the Alva Englund Fellowship and the Maurice Prize in Fiction. She was a resident at the Hedgebrook Writers' Retreat in 2011, and her work has appeared in various journals. She lives in northern California.
About Ali Ahn
Ali Ahn is a film, television, and voice actor. Her acting credits include appearances on Law & Order, Ugly Betty, White Collar, and Zero Hour. She has also narrated numerous audio books, such as Honolulu by Alan Brennert, This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen, Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas, and Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart.