Tween Tuesday: Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur

5 fresh from the oven, warm and melty cookies dipped in cold milk.

Cover Love:  It's intriguing, but I don't think it's particularly eye-catching.


Why I Wanted to Read This:  I loved LaFleur's book Love, Aubrey and liked the synopsis for this one.  Here it is from GoodReads:

Elise and Franklin have always been best friends. Elise has always lived in the big house with her loving Uncle and Aunt, because Elise's parents died when she was too young to remember them.  There's always been a barn behind the house with eight locked doors on the second floor.
When Elise and Franklin start middle school, things feel all wrong. Bullying. Not fitting in. Franklin suddenly seems babyish.  Then, soon after her 12th birthday, Elise receives a mysterious key left for her by her father. A key that unlocks one of the eight doors upstairs in the barn.

I Kept Reading Because: I couldn't put it down. AT ALL.

Romance?: No.

What I Liked (& Didn't):

This book was so emotional!  I think I needed a good cry, and I was a bit PMSed, but I spent a few chapters silently crying as I read.  Once Elise got to start opening the doors to the rooms her dad left her I couldn't stop.  I kept thinking about being her dad knowing that he was dying and that he wouldn't be able to help Elise grow up (I am tearing up now!).   I mean, what would you do it that was you?!

This book also talks to readers on so many levels: grown up readers as parents, and young readers who will identify with Elise and her problems at school.

Again we have the issue of best friends who are a boy and a girl who separate in middle school.  In this case it was Elise's fault.  Watching her realize this and seeing her grow from it was gratifying.

Elise was so conflicted.  So unsure of how she should be acting at school, unsure of her place in her house, you just wanted to reach in and hug her!  And her aunt and uncle were so cool and so loving.  When I read the letter her dad wrote her about her uncle I sobbed, ugh.  I sobbed.

But it was all so well written that even though I cried, I didn't want to stop reading.  It was good crying!  And it made me hug my boys and tell each of them how special they are to me.


To Sum Up: This is a book parents should read and young girls should read.  It is a true coming of age, finding out how special you are type of book!

Book bought for my library.

Tween Tuesday is hosted by Sarah of GreenBeanTeenQueen.  Thanks Sarah!!