Aurhor: Catherine Ryan Hyde

ISBN: 778-0-375-83257-4

Catherine Ryan Hyde has penned another heart clincher. She has tackled the
problem of alcoholism and loneliness spanning the year in the life of a 13 year
old, Cynthia.

Cynthia’s mom, an addicted alcoholic, brings home a string of new boyfriends.
Cynthia has to go to school, take care of herself and her younger brother Bill,
who is a retarded child and who adores her as much as she adores him.

One day, her grand-parents, who live quite a distance away, come to fetch Bill
so they can look after him. Cynthia is devastated. Little by little, she
succumbs to the bottle and her self-esteem descends into the dumps.

The principal focus of The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance centers on
Cynthia’s descent and recovery from alcoholism.  AA, her mentor Pat, and Zack, a
former lover of her mother, as well as art and horses play an important role in
pulling her back from her black hole.

Particularly heart wrenching is her relationship with her mom who truly is a
lost soul. As well, Cynthia’s rapport with her mentor Pat is a push and pull
experience. At the start of their association, she does not want to acknowledge
that she needs help, not from Pat so much but to recognize her own addiction and
fight it back. Cynthia also has an impossible love attraction to one of her
mother’s boyfriends, Zack. Lucky, Zack is a straight guy who puts her back on
her tracks. Snake, her friend, is a battered child who also contributes to her recovery.

In short, succinct prose and lively dialogues, Catherine Ryan Hyde has drawn the
portrait of a troubled teenager. She surrounds her with a cast of wonderful
friends who pull her out of her sinking hole.

A must read for those who think they are not alcoholics even though they drink
too much!

The above review was contributed by:  Lily Azerad-Goldman: Artist: CLICK TO VIEW Lily Azerad-Goldman's Reviews