Gem & Dixie by Sara Zarr

Gem & Dixie by Sara Zarr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoy Sara Zarr's books so much and sisters, Gem & Dixie, really have a tough life but two different outlooks. Gem was the older sister, so responsible, who watches as their lives fall apart over and over again. She just can't take it anymore. When her father comes home after years away, he lies (as usual) and stashes money under a bed. When the girls decide to run away, they find this ill-begotten money and the way both sisters view this latest betrayal is just so real and sad and plain scary. Because Dixie is the youngest and always had Gem looking out for her, Dixie is able to convince herself there are good times in her future with both parents while Gem takes matters into her own hands to save her heart, her sister, and just maybe carve out a future. This was not an easy read; it reminded me of Nancy Werlin's Rules of Survival- one of my favorite books while at Abington Senior High. There are parents who should not be parents and this is true of Gem and Dixie, but while both girls survive- the damage to Gem will only get worse- what will she do??? Powerful read.

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