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The Girl I Wanted to Be Audiobook
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(3.10) - 61 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
As a lowly freshman, Presley Moran walks high school corridors paved with the stuff of family legend. Her cousin, Barry, a senior heartthrob and brainy varsity letterman, insists that looking good on paper is the key to success. But Presley’s young aunt Betsi, a former homecoming queen, has her own ideas about good looks and how to use them.
“Can you keep a secret?” Betsi asks Presley, who, at age fourteen, is eager to enter the adult world of beauty, attraction, and romance. But as Presley is about to discover, some secrets should never be revealed. Will the illicit thrill of being a trusted confidante be worth the consequences of guilt by association?
Propelled by the crash of falling idols, The Girl I Wanted to Be is a timeless and true portrait of passion, loss, and hard-won wisdom.
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"Read the whole book in one night--the writing is fluid and easy and the story made me want to see what was going to happen. Some teen angst, but the emphasis is on an extended family's drama, which I think is what kept me reading, as teen girl angst books are a dime a dozen. "
— Joanie (4 out of 5 stars)
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“From the start of this thoughtful novel it’s clear that the girl who 14-year-old Presley Moran wants to be is her vivacious, daring and alcoholic aunt, Betsi.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Gavin reads slowly, allowing the story to unfold from the young protagonist’s perspective...McCandless emphasizes the crises in a teenager’s life as she learns about life, friends, and family loyalty.”
— AudioFile -
“McCandless’ coming-of-age-story is recounted by seasoned narrator Gavin, who breathes life into the characters, especially teenage protagonist Presley Moran…Through changes in vocal intensity and tone, Gavin displays appropriate emotion, enabling listeners to feel the characters’ sorrow and joy.”
— Booklist -
“Presley’s voice comes through with a believable mixture of confusion, innocence, and growing wisdom.”
— Library Journal
The Girl I Wanted to Be Listener Reviews
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" Presley wants to be like her wild Aunt Betsi - but when Aunt Betsi gets involved with Presley's high school-aged cousin things get out of hand. "
— Teen, 11/14/2011 -
" A "coming of age" book, in which Presley Moran learns the unconfortable truth that those we place our faith and trust in, and perhaps even idolize, are only human after all. "
— Karen, 11/8/2011 -
" Read the whole book in one night--the writing is fluid and easy and the story made me want to see what was going to happen. Some teen angst, but the emphasis is on an extended family's drama, which I think is what kept me reading, as teen girl angst books are a dime a dozen. "
— Joanie, 1/30/2010 -
" A "coming of age" book, in which Presley Moran learns the unconfortable truth that those we place our faith and trust in, and perhaps even idolize, are only human after all. "
— Karen, 5/5/2009 -
" Presley wants to be like her wild Aunt Betsi - but when Aunt Betsi gets involved with Presley's high school-aged cousin things get out of hand. <br/> "
— Teen, 8/6/2008
About Sarah Grace McCandless
Sarah Grace McCandless, a graduate of Michigan State, resides in Washington D.C. where she is a freelance writer contributing to several publications including Venus, Mudsugar, and Daily Candy.
About Marguerite Gavin
Marguerite Gavin is a seasoned theater veteran, a five-time nominee for the prestigious Audie Award, and the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones and Publishers Weekly awards. She has been an actor, director, and audiobook narrator for her entire professional career. With over four hundred titles to her credit, her narration spans nearly every genre, from nonfiction to mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and children’s fiction. AudioFile magazine says, “Marguerite Gavin…has a sonorous voice, rich and full of emotion.”