Gem and Dixie by Sara Zarr

Gem and Dixie is a YA contemporary fiction novel by Sara Zarr. Gem and Dixie have always been the best of friends. That's what sisters are for, right? But the older they get, the further Dixie seems to drift away from Gem. Troubled by the fact that her father has left them and their mother doesn't make their welfare a priority, Gem struggles with day to day life and finds a confidant in the school counselor. Dixie, on the other hand, seems to be unaffected by it all. When their father shows up again out of nowhere, the two sisters are thrust back together. Will this fix their relationship? Or will they find themselves further apart?

Sex: No sex scenes. Gem remarks that her dad messed around on her mom frequently.

Language: Moderate.

Drug/Alcohol Use: Underage drinking and smoking. Gem and Dixie's parents are drug abusers.

Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes/Death: There is some verbal abuse.

Final Note: My heart hurt so much for Gem while reading this book. There were times when I just wanted to reach out and hug her. I really liked how Sara Zarr showed how two sisters can react and respond differently to the same situation. I also really loved how she used adults in the school system to help Gem. I think it's so important to show how the smallest acts from adults, even the cafeteria workers, can make a big difference.

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The Rapid Reader

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