Tales From Cook's Cove: One For Sorrow by Mary C. Sheppard

I love this series. Honestly. Such a good series.

Issy is not a happy camper. She has no friends her own age, she's failing school, and the dearest person to her, her great aunt Lady, has just passed away. It doesn't help that she has a mean, bedridden mother and an older, increasingly bitter sister. However, there's just one thing holding her back. She's illiterate-- she can't read at all, and never could. So how far can she really go?

I really loved this book because it's just so touching-- Mary C. Sheppard really outdoes herself in portraying the feelings of the characters-- the loneliness of Louise, Issy's sister, the helplessness of Issy and her inability to write. It has beautiful descriptions and really makes you feel like you're a part of the book.

One For Sorrow really captures the complexity of human emotions very well, and uses it to lure the reader to sympathize with the characters. You see both sides to each character's story, and you really get to know these characters.

Another really appealing aspect of this book was that it was so real. This could be a real story, and you can immediately connect with the protagonist just because she's so... Tangible. As you read the story, she almost becomes a part of you, and you're submerged into this world of Issy where she's struggling so hard to find her place in her life.

Mary C. Sheppard is really an exceptional writer, and I recommend this book to everyone 14 and up. I recommend 14 and up, or at least 12 and up as it does branch on some themes, plus it is rated as a young adult book!

I give this book a 9.7888 out of 10!***