The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year
I Truly, Completely Lost It
by Lisa Shanahan
I Truly, Completely Lost It
by Lisa Shanahan
THE SWEET, TERRIBLE, GLORIOUS YEAR I TRULY, COMPLETELY LOST IT by Lisa Shanahan
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 8/28/07
Publisher: Delacorte
Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince
Rating: 5 Stars
Gemma Stone will be the world’s oldest flower girl. A fourteen-year-old flower girl dressed as a giant swan. Since her
bridezilla sister is intent on a wedding theme of “animals who mate for life,” Gemma will be paired up with a war-crazy
tomboy from her sister’s family-to-be and forced to waddle down the aisle.
As the big day approaches, Gemma occupies her time with the school drama club as she attempts to get close to her
crush, Nick. Unfortunately, Gemma finds herself practicing for auditions with the fascinating Raven De Head, of the town’s
most dysfunctional family. Will Gem be able to look beyond Raven’s anger and cynicism and her own prejudices to find a
new friend—possibly more?
I laughed my way through the first several chapters as I got to know the quirky Stone family. Shanahan created a zany cast
of characters, and they all had supporting roles for the protagonist.
Gemma delivers in every chapter: loving and sweet, bold and sassy, uncertain and questioning. She struggles to find a
balance between her comfortable past and a roller coaster future as she puts childhood behind her and ventures into a new
world of personalities and relationships.
Raven’s family has the most to teach her, though the lesson of how an abusive family can still have a strong bond is a tough
one for Gemma to learn. Any book that can make a reader like me both laugh and cry, as this one does, is worth picking
up!
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 8/28/07
Publisher: Delacorte
Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince
Rating: 5 Stars
Gemma Stone will be the world’s oldest flower girl. A fourteen-year-old flower girl dressed as a giant swan. Since her
bridezilla sister is intent on a wedding theme of “animals who mate for life,” Gemma will be paired up with a war-crazy
tomboy from her sister’s family-to-be and forced to waddle down the aisle.
As the big day approaches, Gemma occupies her time with the school drama club as she attempts to get close to her
crush, Nick. Unfortunately, Gemma finds herself practicing for auditions with the fascinating Raven De Head, of the town’s
most dysfunctional family. Will Gem be able to look beyond Raven’s anger and cynicism and her own prejudices to find a
new friend—possibly more?
I laughed my way through the first several chapters as I got to know the quirky Stone family. Shanahan created a zany cast
of characters, and they all had supporting roles for the protagonist.
Gemma delivers in every chapter: loving and sweet, bold and sassy, uncertain and questioning. She struggles to find a
balance between her comfortable past and a roller coaster future as she puts childhood behind her and ventures into a new
world of personalities and relationships.
Raven’s family has the most to teach her, though the lesson of how an abusive family can still have a strong bond is a tough
one for Gemma to learn. Any book that can make a reader like me both laugh and cry, as this one does, is worth picking
up!
