Falling Over Sideways

Written by Jordan Sonnenblick

Claire is a dancer. Or so she thought. When she isn’t moved up to the high school level dance class with her friends, she is devastated. However, she doesn’t learn the true meaning of devastation until she witnesses her vibrant, funny father having a stroke, then spending months trying to build back basic skills like talking, walking, and eating. She deals with the situation by being absent from home as much as possible, until she discovers that life is about more than oneself. This book very realistically explores the feelings and actions of a teen with a disabled parent, and coping with balancing out your own needs with those of your family. Be prepared to laugh and cry equal amounts while reading this book.

Review by Diane Eaton, English Teacher, West Lake STEM Jr. High
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 7-9

Falling Over Sideways
Written by Jordan Sonnenblick
Scholastic Press
257 pages
Release Date: September 27, 2016
A review copy was provided by the publisher.

Tags:

2016 YA Fiction, Brothers and Sisters Fiction, Dance Fiction, Diane Eaton, Falling Over Sideways, Family Fiction, Fathers and Daughters Fiction, Friendship Fiction, Illness Fiction, Middle Schools Fiction, Mothers and Daughters Fiction, Strokes Fiction