March 23, 2015
This YA counterpart to Hemingway's adult memoir, Out Came the Sun (which is being published simultaneously), focuses on the childhood and early teenage years of the actor, born into a famous (and famously tormented) family. Writing in the voice of her young self ("I don't know if I told you, but my grandfather is Ernest Hemingway, one of the greatest writers of all time and in the whole world, I think"), Hemingway candidly describes her home life, darkened by her parents' frequent drinking and fighting. The youngest of three, Hemingway recalls feeling like an invisible observer at home, while at school, her earnest attempts to fit in lead her to wonder, "Why am I one person in the outside world and another in my head?" Interspersed lists titled "Things to Think About" give readers added insight into Hemingway's observations and emotions, and she provides numerous resources for those facing problems that plagued her family, including substance and domestic abuse, depression, OCD, and eating disorders. A well-intentioned account of a family's struggles, but its impact is undercut by a naïve narrative tone that borders on condescending. Ages 12âup.
June 1, 2015
Grades 5-8 Mariel Hemingway, actress and granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, offers an honest account of growing up in an unhappy and unstable home that will be a touchstone for any young reader struggling with mental health issues, addiction, self-esteem, or family problems. Adapting her adult memoir, Out Came the Sun (2015), Hemingway chronicles her childhood from birth to the start of her acting career at age 14, focusing on the anxieties that grew from living with parents who drank and fought, and sisters who struggled with bulimia and mental illness. Though not written as a diary, it has that confessional feel, as well as doodles and lists of Things to Think About. While the narrative voice is unevenoften mixing adult insights with attempts at youthful naiveteHemingway excels at expressing the emotional weight of her experiences. Amazingly, it is a book without judgment. Its calm reflections will comfort readers coping with inner or outer turmoil, as will the appended list of health support resources and the message that kids should never be afraid to ask for help.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)