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Saving Lenny
Book by Willey, Margaret
- GenresYoung Adult
151 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
About the author
Margaret Willey
16 books17 followersI am the author of 9 Young Adult novels, 6 picture books & more on the way in both genres. I have also published reviews, essays and poetry. My best known books are the CLEVER BEATRICE picture books, for which I received many awards and prizes, including the CCBC Charlotte Zolotow award for best writing in a picture book. Recently, I was given the Gwen Frostic Award by the Michigan Reading Association for my contributions to literacy in my home state of Michigan. I have two grown children and live in Grand Haven with my husband Richard Joanisse.
I am the author of FOUR SECRETS,a book about the aftermath of a school bullying incident with graphic novel-inspired illustrations by Bill Hauser.
I am currently promoting my new title with Carolrhoda Lab, BEETLE BOY, about a different kind of bullying, the parental kind, and one boy's long journey out of childhood to escape it. Kirkus called the book "Disturbing and riveting" in a starred review. Starred review Publishers Weekly. Cited as a book of week for Sept 1 from PW.
I am the author of FOUR SECRETS,a book about the aftermath of a school bullying incident with graphic novel-inspired illustrations by Bill Hauser.
I am currently promoting my new title with Carolrhoda Lab, BEETLE BOY, about a different kind of bullying, the parental kind, and one boy's long journey out of childhood to escape it. Kirkus called the book "Disturbing and riveting" in a starred review. Starred review Publishers Weekly. Cited as a book of week for Sept 1 from PW.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 5, 2023
Published in 1990. (Jesse writes her school papers on a typewriter, for context.)
It's not an amazing story. It's extremely short and covers more than a year.
But it's got that intensity of connection, of "everything is different now." It's got, "I'm 18 and can make my own decisions." It's got that fantasy come to life of, "If I could just run away with you to a cabin in the middle of nowhere, everything would be great."
I think even without the depression as the center of the story, if it had been two 18-year-olds deciding to try to be on their own (without a surprise pregnancy and too-young marriage) it's still an accurate picture of how hard and mundane life can be, even when you're in love.
With the depression story line, it's hard to read as they fall apart. I like the alternating points of view of Jesse and her best friend Kay, who's observing her friend with a clear head and sad heart.
It's not an amazing story. It's extremely short and covers more than a year.
But it's got that intensity of connection, of "everything is different now." It's got, "I'm 18 and can make my own decisions." It's got that fantasy come to life of, "If I could just run away with you to a cabin in the middle of nowhere, everything would be great."
I think even without the depression as the center of the story, if it had been two 18-year-olds deciding to try to be on their own (without a surprise pregnancy and too-young marriage) it's still an accurate picture of how hard and mundane life can be, even when you're in love.
With the depression story line, it's hard to read as they fall apart. I like the alternating points of view of Jesse and her best friend Kay, who's observing her friend with a clear head and sad heart.
February 5, 2018
I love, love, love this book! This is my second time reading this book. I was fascinated by it the first time I read it and was fascinated by it once again. This book delves into serious issues of abusive relationships, depression, and codependency. If you like romance, you won't think this book has a happy ending. But if you would like to see what it really looks like inside a dangerous relationship, this is your read.
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October 12, 2015Saving Lenny was pretty good. I thought it was really sad at the end though. In the end though it was a pretty good novel.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews