Gem & Dixie

Reviewed by: Brooke Faulkner - McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 25, 2017

Review

Sisters Gem and Dixie live with their mom in Seattle and struggle to get their basic needs met amidst difficult family circumstances that include their mom's substance use disorder and neglect. As young children, older Gem often played the role of caretaker for younger Dixie, but their relationship has become strained as they've aged and Dixie's appearance and ability to navigate social situations has allowed her to play others for what she wants and needs, while Gem's at times bitter edginess has resulted in her increasing isolation. When their estranged father unexpectedly returns and claims he wants to rejoin their family, it sets off a chain of events in which the sisters embark on a clandestine journey across the city; one that is mirrored by their sorting of their many years of emotional baggage.

Narrated by Gem, this is a novel that is achingly real in its presentation of how fractured families can become and the complicated dynamics which arise. Each sister is fully depicted with nuance and compassion and readers will easily empathize with them as they struggle to create a future. Smart and heartbreaking, this should appeal widely to teens who favor contemporary fiction.

Overall Book Score: excellent