White, Sarah
WORK TITLE: Let Me List the Ways
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://sarahlwhite.com/index.html
CITY:
STATE: CA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
https://www.harpercollins.com/cr-125644/sarah-white
RESEARCHER NOTES:
| LC control no.: | no2017140180 |
|---|---|
| LCCN Permalink: | https://lccn.loc.gov/no2017140180 |
| HEADING: | White, Sarah (Sarah L.) |
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| 001 | 10591887 |
| 005 | 20171028073045.0 |
| 008 | 171027n| azannaabn |a aaa c |
| 010 | __ |a no2017140180 |
| 035 | __ |a (OCoLC)oca11039331 |
| 040 | __ |a IlMpPL |b eng |e rda |c IlMpPL |
| 100 | 1_ |a White, Sarah |q (Sarah L.) |
| 370 | __ |c U.S. |e California |
| 375 | __ |a female |
| 377 | __ |a eng |
| 378 | __ |q Sarah L. |
| 400 | 1_ |a White, Sarah |c (Romance fiction writer) |
| 670 | __ |a Our broken pieces, 2017: |b title page (Sarah White) page 3 of cover (Sarah White; born and raised in California; spends her days as a therapist and her nights and weekends reading and writing stories; lives in California; online at www.sarahlwhite.com) |
| 670 | __ |a Goodreads.com, 2017: |b authors (Sarah L. White (Author of Rookie in love); genre: contemporary, romance, fiction; Twitter: sarahwhitewrite) |
PERSONAL
Born in CA.
EDUCATION:University of Los Angeles, bachelor’s degree; California State University, Long Beach, master’s degree.
ADDRESS
- Home - CA.
CAREER
Romance novelist, and marriage and family therapist.
AWARDS:Harlequin and Wattpad So You Think You Can Write Contest winner, 2013; Wattpad’s Watty Awards, 2015, 2016.
WRITINGS
- Our Broken Pieces (novel), HarperTeen (New York, NY), 2017
- Let Me List the Ways (novel), HarperTeen (New York, NY), 2018
Writer of short fiction, including “The Senior Trip, Saving Hope, When It’s Over, Best and Honor, Rookie in Love, Rookie Playing for Keeps, Seven Letter Words, Until Then, Lean on Me, Letting Go, Falling into Trouble,” and “My Prince Charming.”
SIDELIGHTS
Born and raised in California, young adult novelist and prolific writer on Wattpad, Sarah White writes contemporary romance about young love. A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles and California State University, Long Beach, with a master’s degree in counseling, White is also a marriage and family therapist and counsellor. She is a 2013 winner of the Harlequin and Wattpad So You Think You Can Write Contest and received the Wattpad’s Watty Award in both 2015 and 2016. White’s Rookie series on Wattpad begins with “Rookie in Love,” about young adult Madeline forced into the life her family has chosen for her, and Jackson, a southern boy star quarterback who stumbles across Madeline for a life changing intercept. Also writing novels for HarperTeen publishers, White exclaims that she loves to write for fun and has a terrible addiction to reading.
Our Broken Pieces
In 2017, White published the novel, Our Broken Pieces, about betrayal and love lost. High schooler Everly Morgan is picking up the pieces after her boyfriend, Brady, dumped her for her best friend, Elle. She can’t stand seeing them kiss in the hallway. She has rejected both of them as friends. Therapy for her deep depression helps her, especially when she meets the handsome Gabe Darby in the therapist’s waiting room. Gabe is dealing with his own trauma, his sister’s suicide attempt and bipolar disorder. Knowing she doesn’t want another romantic relationship, Everly is nevertheless taken with Gabe and acknowledges they have a spark between them. Soon things are getting steamy.
Praising the book for being a departure from stories that depict teenagers rejecting professional help, a writer in Kirkus Reviews noted that Everly and Gabe’s relationship avoids clichés and forms a foundation for believable support as “neither character is ‘fixing’ the other; instead, each respects the other’s emotional journey.” On the other hand, a Publishers Weekly contributor disliked the use of clichéd phrases and noted a lack of emotional punch. The contributor admitted, however, “The novel attempts to tackle some serious issues, particularly regarding mental health.” On the Girl Plus Books website, Tanya Atkinson found that the message of seeking therapy read like a public service announcement and the writing was more telling than showing, however, Atkinson appreciated the supportive family and “Everly’s growth throughout the novel was showcased well and I enjoyed seeing her progress as she worked to piece together a newer and stronger sense of self.”
A freshly romantic read that provides a sizzling summer romance, the book also reveals to teens that it’s okay to seek professional help for emotional issues, according to a reviewer online at Teen Reads. The reviewer added: “As Everly—the narrator—shares her innermost thoughts, she becomes a credible character who most teens can understand.” Writing online at YA Books Central, Amy Oliver observed that White gets right the emotional turmoil of high school friendships and romances, but sometimes the plot can get too unbelievable, cruel gossip is dropped too quickly, and the timeline is confusing. However, Oliver said: “I’d recommend [the book] to those who want a sweet, sex positive romance with a few inches of depth to the characters. It’s certainly a quick read.”
Let Me List the Ways
White next wrote Let Me List the Ways in 2018. In the story Mackenzie “Zie” Clark has known the boy next door, Nolan Walker, ever since he helped during her first symptoms of childhood diabetes. Over the years he has made sure she has checked her blood sugar and taken her medication. Now they are high school seniors who decide to make a senior-year bucket list of things to do before they go off to separate colleges. Zie is debating about whether one of the things on that list should be telling Nolan that she is in love with him, especially after she sees him with another girl.
Besides the common theme of loving the boy next door and the predictable romance, the story is heartwarming and fun, noted Barbara Allen in Voice of Youth Advocates. Allen went on: “This story delves into the heart of every teenage girl and shows them that, sometimes, love is right next door.” In a review in School Library Journal, Melissa Lambert noted: “Teens will be able to connect with the characters and feel their sadness, embarrassment, heartache, and love through the dialogue.”
Critics applauded the inclusion of a teenager with diabetes and her life managing the condition. A Kirkus Reviews writer said: “Zie’s emerging independence is overshadowed by her preoccupation with her seemingly one-sided crush, but her daily experiences as a diabetic are insightful.” Jeanne Fredriksen reported in Booklist, “The realistic portrayal of Zie’s type 1 diabetes offers courage to readers.” In a review online at Diabetes Daily, Leighann Calentine remarked: “Teens and young adults living with type 1 diabetes will see themselves in Zie, and it can help normalize their diabetes seeing the everyday tasks of diabetes management on the pages of a book.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, April 1, 2018, Jeanne Fredriksen, review of Let Me List the Ways, p. 78.
Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2017, review of Our Broken Pieces; June 1, 2018, review of Let Me List the Ways.
Publishers Weekly, June 5, 2017, review of Our Broken Pieces, p. 55.
School Library Journal, June 2018, Melissa Lambert, review of Let Me List the Ways, p. 95.
Voice of Youth Advocates, August 2018, Barbara Allen, review of Let Me List the Ways, p. 66.
ONLINE
Diabetes Daily, https://www.diabetesdaily.com/ (August 11, 2018), Leighann Calentine, review of Let Me List the Ways.
Girl Plus Books, http://girlplusbooks.blogspot.com/ (September 15, 2017), Tanya Atkinson, review of Our Broken Pieces.
TeenReads, https://www.teenreads.com/ (August 8, 2017), review of Our Broken Pieces.
YA Books Central, http://www.yabookscentral.com/ (August 31, 2017), Amy Oliver, review of Our Broken Pieces.
- Our Broken Pieces ( novel) HarperTeen (New York, NY), 2017
- Let Me List the Ways ( novel) HarperTeen (New York, NY), 2018
- Sarah L. White - http://sarahlwhite.com/about-sarah.html
Our Broken Pieces
Home
Stories
About Sarah
ConnectSarah White was born and raised in California. Graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles and California State University, Long Beach, she has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Counseling. Sarah spends her days as a therapist and her nights and weekends reading and writing love stories. Sarah is a winner of the 2013 Harlequin and Wattpad STYTCW Contest and won Wattpad's Watty awards two years in a row in 2015 and 2016. Her first book with HarperTeen is available now.
http://sarahlwhite.com/about-sarah.html - Harper Collins - https://www.harpercollins.com/author/cr-125644/sarah-white/
Sarah White, author of Our Broken Pieces and Let Me List the Ways, was born and raised in California. A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, and California State University, Long Beach, she has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling. Sarah spends her days as a marriage and family therapist and her nights and weekends reading and writing stories. She is a winner of the Harlequin So You Think You Can Write Contest and a Watty Award. She currently lives in California with her husband and two boys. You can visit her online at www.sarahlwhite.com.
White, Sarah. Let Me List the Ways
Barbara Allen
Voice of Youth Advocates.
41.3 (Aug. 2018): p66+. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
White, Sarah. Let Me List the Ways. HarperCollins, August 2018. 304p. $9.99 Trade pb. 978-0-06-247315-8.
5Q * 3P * M * J * S (a)
Mackenzie fell in love with the boy next door the day he "saved" her life. When she suffered from her first symptom of diabetes, Nolan got help for her. He begins to make sure she monitors her sugar and insulin. He is her guardian angel and the two are inseparable, best friends throughout their childhoods. As they reach their senior year, Mackenzie wonders if she should tell him that she is in love with him. She has never been in a romantic relationship. She becomes jealous when Nolan starts to date another girl. She agonizes over whether she should tell him, worried it could destroy their friendship. They create a senior-year bucket list and relive all their best childhood memories. This brings them closer than ever. But does not answer the question: should she tell? How does Nolan feel?
White creates a formulaic, but lovable story about the boy next door. As with most romance novel, it is predictable, but it is heartwarming and fun. White provides a unique twist with which teens with diabetes will connect. Not many novels tackle type 1 diabetes as part of the plot, and White does it effortlessly. While there is some sexual content, it is not of a graphic nature. This story delves into the heart of every teenage girl and shows them that, sometimes, love is right next door.--Barbara Allen.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Allen, Barbara. "White, Sarah. Let Me List the Ways." Voice of Youth Advocates, Aug. 2018, p.
66+. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A551167855 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=de31bcb1. Accessed 29 Sept. 2018.
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White, Sarah: LET ME LIST THE WAYS
Kirkus Reviews.
(June 1, 2018): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
White, Sarah LET ME LIST THE WAYS HarperTeen (Young Adult Fiction) $9.99 8, 7 ISBN: 978-0-06-247315-8
Two best friends try to make the most of the time they have left together before heading off to different colleges.
Ever since Mackenzie "Zie" Clark was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, boy-next-door (and hot baseball pitcher) Nolan Walker has been at her side as she's learned to manage her disease. From TP'ing a bully's home to skipping classes to see a movie (with their parents' permission), they have been inseparable. As their high school graduation approaches and they begin to date other people, they make a bucket list of all the things they want to do together before summer, including having a campout, going to Disneyland, and getting tattoos. Afraid it could ruin everything, Zie worries over whether or not to add confessing her love for Nolan to the list. While their friendship is sweet (Zie takes care of Nolan when his throwing shoulder aches, and Nolan always carries around Hershey's Kisses just for her), their romance is bland. White (Our Broken Pieces, 2017) evades tense situations and fast-forwards the plot at its peak to reach her desired conclusion. Zie's emerging independence is overshadowed by her preoccupation with her seemingly one-sided crush, but her daily experiences as a diabetic are insightful. The cast is assumed white and supporting characters are two-dimensional.
Another light and summery read for fans of the "friends-to-lovers" trope. (Fiction. 12-18)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"White, Sarah: LET ME LIST THE WAYS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 June 2018. Book Review Index
Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A540723164/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=49e6a9e8. Accessed 29 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A540723164
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Let Me List the Ways
Jeanne Fredriksen
Booklist.
114.15 (Apr. 1, 2018): p78. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
Let Me List the Ways. By Sarah White. Aug. 2018.304p. HarperTeen, paper, $9.99 (9780062473158); e-book, $9.99 (9780062473165). Gr. 9-12.
Seniors Mackenzie Clark, aka Zie, and Nolan Walker have been neighbors and best friends forever, with their own set of rituals, like their nonstop creation of top 10 lists. Their lives are so closely entwined that not only do they share everything, but Nolan has also become proficient in caring for Zie's type 1 diabetes and is always alert for changes in Zie's demeanor. The problem is that Zie is secretly, desperately in love with Nolan but feels the admission of her feelings would ruin everything, even when he starts to date Erin. As Zie and Nolan cross things off their list of things to do before graduation, they find themselves in a situation where their truest feelings for each other surface. White has written a light, summer read perfect for readers who enjoy a little romance, fun, and a lot of heart. The realistic portrayal of Zie's type 1 diabetes offers courage to readers who feel hesitant about putting their health before their appearance, while fostering mindfulness in others.--Jeanne Fredriksen
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Fredriksen, Jeanne. "Let Me List the Ways." Booklist, 1 Apr. 2018, p. 78. Book Review Index
Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A534956967/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=76e96026. Accessed 29 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A534956967
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White, Sarah: OUR BROKEN PIECES
Kirkus Reviews.
(June 1, 2017): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
White, Sarah OUR BROKEN PIECES HarperTeen (Children's Fiction) $9.99 8, 8 ISBN: 978-0-06-247313-4
A chance waiting-room meeting sparks romance.Everly, a successful, white high school senior, manages occasional panic attacks with her therapist's help. When catching her boyfriend making out with her best friend escalates the panic attacks, Everly's therapist suggests new coping tools. They help Everly reduce her negative thoughts and incrementally face her worst fears. The therapy sessions also unexpectedly provide opportunities for Everly to connect with handsome, white Gabe, another student from her school with captivating multicolored eyes. He quickly becomes another positive in her life, playfully and gently teasing Everly while also allowing her to share her lingering pain about the bad breakup. In return, Everly supports Gabe as he tackles his fears following his sister's recent suicide attempt and her ongoing challenges with managing her bipolar symptoms. Both Everly and Gabe develop positive relationships with their therapists in a refreshing departure from the multitude of teen characters who reject all professional interventions. Everly and Gabe's relationship also avoids cliches: neither character is "fixing" the other; instead, each respects the other's emotional journey. This mutual admiration forms the foundation for the believable support they offer each other during difficult moments. And the genuineness of their emotional connection makes their scorching intimate scenes even sexier (as does the welcome inclusion of condoms). A thoughtfully sexy meditation on healing, friendship, and romance. (Fiction. 14-18)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"White, Sarah: OUR BROKEN PIECES." Kirkus Reviews, 1 June 2017. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A493329163/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=b5c7c2ad. Accessed 29 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A493329163
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Our Broken Pieces
Publishers Weekly.
264.23 (June 5, 2017): p55. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Our Broken Pieces
Sarah White. HarperTeen, $9.99 trade paper (288p) ISBN 978-0-06-247313-4
Everly Morgan thought that her senior year would be filled with fun times with her boyfriend, Brady, and best friend, Elle. That changes when she finds the two of them in a compromising position and learns that most of her friends were aware of the betrayal. To deal with her depression and anxiety, Everly starts seeing a therapist every Tuesday, which is where she meets Gabe, a classmate she has never noticed before. Even though Everly has sworn off love, her attraction to Gabe is undeniable. White, who has built up a following on Wattpad for her Rookie in Love series and other stories, knows how to put together a steamy romantic scene, though she often dips into cliched turns of phrase ("I feel my lips curl up into a smile"). The novel attempts to tackle some serious issues, particularly regarding mental health, but it lacks much of an emotional punch, especially when Everly's concerns turn to whether she'll have fun during spirit week or get the "promposal" of her dreams. Ages 14-up. Agent: Christine Witthohn, Book Cents Literarj. (Aug.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Our Broken Pieces." Publishers Weekly, 5 June 2017, p. 55. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A495538403/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=7654275a. Accessed 29 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A495538403
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WHITE, Sarah. Let Me List the Ways
Melissa Lambert
School Library Journal.
64.6 (June 2018): p95. From Book Review Index Plus.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Lambert, Melissa. "WHITE, Sarah. Let Me List the Ways." School Library Journal, June 2018,
p. 95.
Gr 9 Up—Mackenzie and Nolan are next door neighbors and best friends. They grew up together and share a special bond that none of their friends fully seem to comprehend. It's their senior year of high school and reality has set in that their paths will soon diverge. Their daily hangout sessions, weekend trips to the beach, and monthly movie nights will be a thing of the past. They decide to relive their favorite memories together and create a "Senior Year Redo Bucket List." Somewhere between the backyard campout and their spring break trip, Mackenzie realizes that she is totally and completely in love with Nolan. This is the only secret she has ever kept from him, and she must decide if and when she will spill her veiled affection. What makes this teen romance unique is that Mackenzie is living with type 1 diabetes. While diabetes is not the main story, it is referenced often enough to give readers an idea of what it might be like to live with the chronic condition. Teens will be able to connect with the characters and feel their sadness, embarrassment, heartache, and love through the dialogue and Mackenzie's first-person narration. VERDICT This book will please the usual romance enthusiasts.
Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A540902981 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=e7ea82ff. Accessed 29 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A540902981
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- Teen Reads
https://www.teenreads.com/reviews/our-broken-pieces
Word count: 600Review
Our Broken Pieces
by Sarah White[Buy this book at IndieBound]
[Buy this book at Amazon]
[Buy this book at Barnes and Noble]When smart, sensitive Everly Morgan discovers that her longtime boyfriend has fallen for her BFF, the heartbroken high school senior struggles to rebuild her life. Just seeing Brady and Elle together on campus proves painful for Everly --- until gorgeous Gabe enters her therapist’s office. The troubled teens make a special connection as they share their personal setbacks. Loss, love, and new beginnings thoughtfully unfold in OUR BROKEN PIECES, a refreshing romantic read by Sarah White.
The novel takes place in Los Angeles, yet the moving story could happen anywhere. Everly catches her high school sweetheart with her closest friend, and two relationships end in an instant. Everly describes, “The betrayal came out of nowhere. If I didn’t see it for myself, I would have never believed that either of them was capable of hurting me so deeply…I stood there, speechless, as I watched the two of them throw away years of friendship in the backseat of his truck.”
"Loss, love, and new beginnings thoughtfully unfold in OUR BROKEN PIECES, a refreshing romantic read by Sarah White."
As Everly --- the narrator --- shares her innermost thoughts, she becomes a credible character who most teens can understand. Her initial sessions with Laura, a therapist, reveal a “sad, hurt, devastated” girl who is afraid and embarrassed to confront Brady, Elle and their mutual friends. The scared senior hurries through hallways, hides in the quad during lunch and even skips school (quite unusual for the model student who has been accepted to UCLA). Of course, Everly does not remain the victim forever.
While the tenacious teenager makes progress in therapy, she also makes the acquaintance of Gabe Darby, another patient in Laura’s waiting room. Much to Everly’s surprise, the athletic swimmer with dreamy eyes attends her school, shares her tastes in books and music and understands her anxiety. Gabe is trying to cope with his sister’s bipolar disorder, which led to her recent suicide attempt. Not surprisingly, Everly and Gabe find support in one another and sparks fly outside of therapy.
Their steamy romance provides some sizzling summer reading. The description of the teens’ “first time together” in Gabe’s shower reveals an intense physical and emotional attachment to each other. The narrator shares, “We stand in the steam and spray of the hot water locked in a world of our own…We’ve both seen each other’s scars, we’ve both been there when it mattered. I don’t think it needs to be flowers and candles. For us it just needs to be real.” Is their “real” intimacy a cure for their inner pain, or just an escape?
Escape with Gabe and Everly and find out if they live “happily Everly after.” Author Sarah White, who is also a therapist, shows teens that it is alright to get professional help when life becomes overwhelming. OUR BROKEN PIECES offers young adult audiences a hopeful, heartwarming story of healing.
Reviewed by Juliette G., Teen Board Member on August 15, 2017
[Buy this book at IndieBound] [Buy this book at Amazon] [Buy this book at Barnes and Noble]
Our Broken Pieces
by Sarah WhitePublication Date: August 8, 2017
Genres: Dating, Fiction, Romance, Sex
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN-10: 0062473131
ISBN-13: 9780062473134 - YA Books Central
http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/21720-our-broken-pieces
Word count: 718Our Broken Pieces Featured
3.7
0.0 (0)
1423 0
Our Broken Pieces
Author(s)
Sarah White
Publisher
HarperTeen
Genre(s)Contemporary
Contemporary Romance
therapyAge Range
13+
Release Date
August 17, 2017
ISBN
9780062665201
Buy This BookThe only thing worse than having your boyfriend dump you is having him dump you for your best friend. For Everly Morgan the betrayal came out of nowhere. One moment she had what seemed like the perfect high school relationship, and the next, she wanted to avoid the two most important people in her life. Every time she sees them kiss in the hallways her heart breaks a little more. The last thing on Everly’s mind is getting into another relationship, but when she meets Gabe in her therapist’s waiting room she can’t deny their immediate connection. Somehow he seems to understand Everly in a way that no one else in her life does, and maybe it’s because Gabe also has experience grappling with issues outside of his control. Just because they share so many of the same interests and there is an undeniable spark between them doesn’t mean Everly wants anything more than friendship. After all, when you only barely survived your last breakup, is it really worth risking your heart again?
Editor reviews
1 reviews
Overall rating3.7
Plot4.0 (1)
Characters4.0 (1)
Writing Style3.0 (1)
August 31, 2017
Amy Oliver, Staff Reviewer Amy Oliver, Staff Reviewer
Top 500 Reviewer
View all my reviews (30)
Overall rating3.7
Plot4.0
Characters4.0
Writing Style3.0
A sweet and fast readAs Everly learns the hard way, high school relationships don't always survive high school. When she catches her boyfriend cheating on her with her best friend, all those people she thought were her friends make it pretty clear that they don't want to choose a side. Worse, Everly's former best friend decides to spread rumors about her to sway their mutual friends.
Everly's parents are so concerned that they send her to therapy. White does a great job of presenting therapy in a positive light showing both the benefits and hard work involved (which makes total sense since the author is a therapist!) While in the waiting room one day, she meets Gabe, a gorgeous guy who immediately sparks interest in her. The thing is, though, Everly doesn't think she's ready. She's too busy worrying about her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend to prioritize her own happiness. She's also battling all those rumors about her, and she's trying to make some new friends.
Fortunately, Gabe turns out to be pretty fabulous, but he's not visiting a therapist just for grins and giggles. Gabe's reasons for therapy are a bit more severe and serious than Everly's, to the point that you hope that she can see that it's possible that she only thought she was madly in love with her ex.
When it comes to understanding the torture of high school friendships and romances, Sarah White largely gets it right. She develops the nuances of navigating the cafeteria and finding a new crowd quite skillfully. One of the subplots involving Everly's best friend and those rumors is dropped too quickly and without much explanation. We also don't really get a sense of the ex-boyfriend. Some of the major plot lines of the book felt a little too unbelievable at times, taking me out of the story. For example, Everly had never heard of Ed Sheeran before Gabe introduced her to his music. And everyone at the school is obsessed with their "prom-posals" that we're over the top.
Gabe, though, is well developed, as is Everly. I got a little confused by some of the timeline moments. The book takes place in the spring, yet football seems to be pretty prevalent. Football season would have ended a few months earlier.
Overall, I'd recommend to those who want a sweet, sex positive romance with a few inches of depth to the characters. It's certainly a quick read and leaves you feeling
- Diabetes Daily
https://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/book-review-let-me-list-the-ways-584038/
Word count: 1118Book Review: Let Me List the Ways
Let Me List the Ways book review
Image: Harper Teen
By Leighann Calentine August 11th, 2018I’m always excited to see a main character in a book who lives with type 1 diabetes. Sarah White sent me an advanced copy of her new young adult (YA) novel “Let Me List the Ways” from Harper Teen which released on August 7, 2018:
A breezy, sexy contemporary YA about falling in love with your best friend, from Wattpad phenom Sarah White.
Mackenzie Clark has been best friends with Nolan Walker for as long as she can remember. She’s shared everything with him, from adventures with their families and days lounging at the beach to long talks about their friends and her journey with type 1 diabetes. The only thing she hasn’t shared is the fact that she is in love with him.
Now in their senior year of high school, Mackenzie and Nolan know that in a few short months everything will change as they head off to different colleges. Determined to make the most of the time they still have left, they come up with a list of things they want to do together before graduation.
But as they make their way through everything from toilet papering the school bully’s house to having a backyard camp-out like the ones they had when they were kids, Mackenzie can’t help feeling that she’s left the most important thing off the list: telling Nolan how she feels.
Confessing her love could jeopardize the incredible relationship they already have. Is honesty really the best policy?
I thought my teen with diabetes would want to read it. I was wrong. She doesn’t “read romance.”
Oh well. I enjoyed a little me time sitting in the shade with our puppy reading the book this summer.
In the book, we quickly learn that the main character Mackenzie, called “Zie” by her friend Nolan, lives with type 1 diabetes. As her longtime neighbor and bestie, Nolan is knowledgeable about her diabetes management and often helps her treat low blood sugar.
As I folded the letter back up again, I could see the small tremble in my hand and wondered if it was from my blood sugar dropping or the letter I was holding. Nolan seemed to notice it too, and he took the note and handed me some cookies from his lunch. “Twelve each,” he said automatically, to which I nodded and gratefully accepted them. Twelve meant the number of carbs each cookie contained. Nolan spoke my language.
One seemingly small detail I did not like about the book was that Nolan often gave her chocolate kisses when her blood sugar was low. Low blood sugar should be treated with fast-acting carbs, and many medical professionals warn against using chocolate to treat a low because the fat content makes it slower acting. Juice and glucose tablets act much more quickly to elevate blood sugar levels. However, I think that the author used the chocolate kisses to symbolize their relationship.
On the other hand, many of the day-to-day tasks that teens (and people of any age) with diabetes must do are somewhat normalized. It might be very validating for a teen or young adult to see their normal every day on the pages of a book.
For instance, when they head to the beach, she describes taking off her insulin pump because, although it’s waterproof, she doesn’t like to take a chance with salt water and sand. She places her testing kit and pump in the cooler for safe keeping.
The book also addresses some of the diabetes myths that young adults may face, especially when meeting new people.
“No. Sorry,” she said, looking away. “I just thought diabetics weren’t supposed to eat sugar.”
I actually got that all the time. I shook my head. “When you eat sugar, your pancreas makes insulin. When I eat sugar, I just have to give myself the insulin. Obviously I can’t go crazy and eat my weight in sugary products, but I can have some cookies here and there. I need to sometimes if my blood sugar is low.”
Zie’s inner monolog is one that I am sure many, many people with type 1 diabetes have had:
Sometimes the challenges I faced were small, like curious eyes on me as I tested myself in the open at a restaurant or clipped my pump to a more conspicuous place on my outfit. It could be frustrating when people gave me unsolicited, unhelpful, and incorrect advice, like that eating a healthier diet, a low-carb diet, or an organic diet would cure my disease. And it was hurtful when my peers would joke that they couldn’t eat one more candy bar because they’d get diabetes. One day I hoped there would be a greater understanding of diabetes, but in the meantime all we could do was support each other and try to educate people when they were willing to learn.
While the story line is somewhat predictable — girl pines after her best friend, he doesn’t know she’s in love with him, they both start dating someone else, her love is finally revealed — young adult readers, especially those who like romance novels, may enjoy the story. But most of all, teens and young adults living with type 1 diabetes will see themselves in Zie, and it can help normalize their diabetes seeing the everyday tasks of diabetes management on the pages of a book.
Read more about book review, insulin, insulin pumps, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), low-carb diet, teens with diabetes, young adults with diabetes.
Last Updated: August 7th, 2018
Filed Under: Life with Diabetes, Type 1 DiabetesLeighann Calentine
When Leighann Calentine’s daughter Q was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2008 at the age of three, she began sharing their story on her “mommy blog,” eventually launching D-Mom Blog to help other parents of children with diabetes. Leighann says that like others dealing with diabetes, she and her husband count carbs, carry juice boxes, and are always on call. In her book Kids First, Diabetes Second, she shares how they manage their daughter’s diabetes, first with injections and now with an insulin pump, navigate playing several sports, and tackle sending her to public school, all while making sure that Q is a child first and that diabetes is second.
- Girl Plus Books
http://girlplusbooks.blogspot.com/2017/09/review-our-broken-pieces-by-sarah-white.html
Word count: 301REVIEW: OUR BROKEN PIECES BY SARAH WHITE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017
Everly goes into a tailspin after her high school relationship ends in betrayal. She’s lost not only her boyfriend but her best friend as well. Her vision of the perfect senior year is ruined and seeing them together at school is almost more than she can handle. Already seeing a therapist for anxiety, Everly now has new issues to tackle. Meeting Gabe in her therapists’ waiting room proves to be a turning point as they start a relationship and offer support to one another.What I Appreciated:
The supportive family relationships were my favorite aspect of Our Broken Pieces. Both Everly and Gabe have parents who are loving and supportive and this was a refreshing change from the usual dysfunctional (or absentee) parents in YA novels. Everly’s growth throughout the novel was showcased well and I enjoyed seeing her progress as she worked to piece together a newer and stronger sense of self.What Left Me Wanting More:
While Our Broken Pieces is certainly therapy-positive, at times it almost felt like a PSA for therapy. The positive aspects and outcomes of therapy (for not one, not two, but three of the characters) were delivered with a heavy hand. Our Broken Pieces could have used additional editing. Not only was the writing all telling and no showing, but repetition was an issue and became a distraction. (One example: the phrase “I can’t help…” I can’t help but blush, I can’t help but laugh, I can’t help but smile, etc. was used no fewer than fourteen times.)Our Broken Pieces is an enjoyable YA contemporary that highlights family, relationships and mental health in a positive light.
- Sascha Darlington’s Microcosm Explored
https://saschadarlington.me/2017/08/06/review-of-our-broken-pieces/
Word count: 270While teenage heartbreak is the stuff of clichéd novels, author Sarah White takes Our Broken Pieces in a slightly different direction by exploring the issues of teens and mental health. It’s a very honest discussion and depiction, and I think that this sets Our Broken Pieces apart from the cliché.
Everly is attempting to deal with the loss of both her boyfriend, Brady, and her best friend, Elle, which is difficult considering that it seems every where she turns, they are there, holding hands or kissing. She’s finding it tough just to make it through each day, or get out of bed. She goes to therapy in order to gain a skill set that will help her. There she meets Gabe, a nice guy who attends her high school and who she’s never even noticed because of her Brady-obsession.
For the most part, I enjoyed Our Broken Pieces, although the writing itself was pretty basic and some parts dragged. The relationship between Everly and Gabe is sweet and they seemed good for each other. The grand gesture at the end that is charming; I always like the grand gestures.
There were two graphic sex scenes which didn’t seem quite at home in a young adult novel, especially in comparison to the recently reviewed Sarah Dessen novel, Once and For All, which was more tastefully and poetically written. So, if you are considering this for a younger audience, you might want to make note of that.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.