Pretending to Dance: A Novel

Author: Chamberlain, Diane

Edition: First Edition

Number Of Pages: 352

Details:

Molly Arnette is very good at keeping secrets. She and her husband live in San Diego, where they hope to soon adopt a baby. But the process terrifies her.As the questions and background checks come one after another, Molly worries that the truth she's kept hidden about her North Carolina childhood will rise to the surface and destroy not only her chance at adoption, but her marriage as well. She ran away from her family twenty years ago after a shocking event left her devastated and distrustful of those she loved: Her mother, the woman who raised her and who Molly says is dead but is very much alive. Her birth mother, whose mysterious presence raised so many issues. The father she adored, whose death sent her running from the small community of Morrison Ridge.Now, as she tries to find a way to make peace with her past and embrace a future filled with promise, she discovers that even she doesn't know the truth of what happened in her family of pretenders.Told with Diane Chamberlain's compelling prose and gift for deft exploration of the human heart, Pretending to Dance is an exploration of family, lies, and the complexities of both. From School Library Journal Molly and her husband, Aidan, want to adopt a baby. A young pregnant girl who wants to give her child up thinks that they may be the couple to become her baby's parents. But though Molly knows that she wants this baby, she is also unsure about being an adoptive mother. Her past looms close and hides a secret that she fears will unhinge not only this adoption but possibly her marriage. Alternating chapters tell the story of Molly's life during the summer she turned 14 in her small North Carolina town, juxtaposed with chapters about her life today as a lawyer in San Diego. She was raised in a loving family with a pharmacist mother and a therapist father with multiple sclerosis. That summer, Molly befriends a new girl who introduces her to an older boy, and subsequently drugs and sex. When a devastating event occurs and her beloved father dies, Molly is unable to reconcile the actions of her family. She is unable to trust them and leaves them behind, first for boarding schools and then for her adult life in San Diego. It is only her fear that the past is beginning to influence her present that pushes her to deal with those earlier events. VERDICT An excellent choice for mature teens who will follow Molly's burgeoning maturity as she tries to keep her father close and safe.—Connie Williams, Petaluma High School, CA

Reviews:

“Pretending to Dance is a multilayered, poignant novel. Chamberlain writes knowledgeably about seeing a family member confront a degenerative illness, the power of therapy, and the hardship of loss. Reminiscent of a Sarah Dessen or Sharon Creech novel, Pretending to Dance proves that a coming-of-age story can happen at any time in your life." ―Booklist on Pretending to Dance"A book rich in relatable characters and moving scenes, this stunning tale will linger with readers long after the last page." ―RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars, Top Pick) on Pretending to Dance“While the family argues and Molly’s hormones run wild, something else is going on that will make for the explosive revelation at novel’s end.” ―Kirkus Reviews on Pretending to Dance"Very well developed characters who are so real you want to reach out and hug them." ―Fiction Addiction on Pretending to Dance"A gripping story." ―Woman and Home on Pretending to Dance“Diane Chamberlain’s insight as a former social worker and psychotherapist is evident in her writing, adding emotion and depth to complex family dynamics. . . You may need tissues.” ―The Eclectic Reader on Pretending to Dance“A tightly plotted mystery with well drawn characters.” ―The Books Lover’s Best Friend on Pretending to Dance“This book seamlessly flowed between past and present to create a story that was sad, yet heartwarming and ultimately the story of one girl’s triumphant life.” ―Comfy Reading on Pretend...

EAN: 9781250010742

Release Date: 06-10-2015

Languages: english

Item Note: Readable book with typical wear and small creases. Has a remainder mark. Hardcover Used - Like New 2015First Edition

Item Condition: UsedLikeNew

Binding: Hardcover