Not Without Anna, by Vicki Taylor

Posted by: Dotsie

Not Without Anna, by Vicki Taylor - 05/01/04 12:55 AM

Beginning May 1 we will begin posting about Vicki's book! If you haven't gotten your copy yet, now's the time. [Big Grin]
Posted by: Vicki M. Taylor

Re: Not Without Anna, by Vicki Taylor - 05/04/04 08:19 PM

Just a reminder to those reading NOT WITHOUT ANNA, I'll be available online for questions and comments.

Happy Reading!
Posted by: Dotsie

Re: Not Without Anna, by Vicki Taylor - 05/09/04 07:12 AM

The way this book starts reminds me of a vacation I took the summer before my freshman year of high school. My aunt lived in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and a friend of mine and I went to stay with her and her family for a month. [Big Grin] Must be the setting and all the teens.

We met a whole neighborhood of new friends and hung out in pools. Fortunately we weren't drinking and drugging, just very innocent preteen crushes.

This first chapter gets off to a major jump start that left me curious and interested in reading on. I love how Vicki intersperses the kids thoughts. I believe they are so true to life. Teens have so many things to think about and I think for some their highest priority is fitting in. Just like Jessie wanting to be the #1 girl in the group...the most popular.

The emotions of the teens are right on. Even though I find it unfortunate, I truly believe there's a whole segment of our youth who feel this way. Thanks to televison!

I could also relate to the whole college acceptance talk.

With three teens on the homefront, this book is right up my alley.
Posted by: jawjaw

Re: Not Without Anna, by Vicki Taylor - 05/08/04 10:38 PM

I think one thing Vicki managed to do was help us to relate with these inner thoughts that Dotsie pointed out...don't you think? I mean I can remember having similar thoughts as these teens. Maybe our teen years weren't as open or forward (i.e., drinking/drugs) but the insecurities these children displayed are universal and cross generations. In a nutshell...the story was believable...

The peer pressure to conform, or to be #1, or to be cool, accepted, etc...all of these things were present in my generation as well as today's.

One of the most disturbing things about the story was the lack of communication between the teenagers and their parents. I may be way off, but I felt that was one of the most important messages handed to parents thru out the reading. I think Vicki was shouting, "Hindsight isn't good enough people! Listen up! Take heed!" yes? no?
Posted by: Vicki M. Taylor

Re: Not Without Anna, by Vicki Taylor - 05/09/04 01:13 AM

Yes, JawJaw, yes!!!

I wan'ted it to really show how the parents are off doing their thing, the kids are doing their thing and no one is talking to each other.

Thanks for pointing that out.

Peace.