Waiting to Forget by Sheila Kelly Welch: Goodreads Review
This was the second book I read in celebration of NetGalley month. 🙂
Waiting to Forget by Sheila Kelly Welch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
As this story begins, a 13 year old boy named TJ sits in the waiting room of a hospital anxiously waiting for any news about his little sister. His sister, Angela, has had a fall and was rushed to the ER. As TJ waits, he looks through an album about his life and remembers the important events that brought he and his sister to their new adoptive parents’ home.
TJ has always taken care of Angela, because sometimes it was hard for their mom to take care of them while she worked–or spent time with strange men. Their mother often leaves them alone overnight. There are good times and bad, but mostly bad. TJ’s mom is just not fit to take care of them, and all they want is to be loved.
I’m not really sure how I felt about this book. I am a mom, so the events that occurred in this story are heartbreaking and unimaginable to me. I could see how the children were each stuck in their roles. TJ was always the mature, stoic caretaker. Angela was the baby, and acted like it. Both children were severely affected by their mother’s emotional abuse. It was so sad to read about the way TJ adored the very few hugs and praises he ever got from his mother.
I was glad to see that the children eventually moved on to a better life, but overall I found this quite a depressing read. As I read and finished this book, it made me think of all the other children in the world who are probably going through similar predicaments, perhaps right under our noses. It has opened my eyes. I’m not quite sure if that’s what the author was trying to accomplish, but that’s the only thing I got out of this book.
Posted on January 23, 2012, in books, challenge, Ebook challenge, Goodreads challenge, NetGalley, reading, review, YA Challenge. Bookmark the permalink. 5 Comments.
Sweet Southern Home 
Sounds good to me. I see these situations everyday and as a teacher I get to make a difference. They at least get attention while in my class. Do you have this book? I also wish you didn’t tell me the end on all your reviews mostly…
I’m sorry…I try to not give away the endings but I guess I’ll have to work harder on that.
Thank you for reviewing my book. I knew when I wrote it that it wouldn’t be everyone’s favorite story, and I appreciate your opinion.
Ashley, I’d really like you to read Waiting to Forget. You should be able to buy it at many on-line stores or request it at your local library, which should get it for you through inter-library loan. Please check out other reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
Hi Ms. Welch, thanks for visiting my blog! I didn’t dislike your book, I just found it a very heartbreaking read. Especially considering the fact that I have a son. I’d be interested in reading a follow up if there ever was one…to know how their childhood affected TJ and Angela as they got older would be a fascinating read. I would recommend this book to others. 🙂
Hi, Carrie,
Thanks for your suggestion! A sequel would be interesting, but I’m in the middle of writing another book right now. I know that my characters, T.J. and Angela, would be affected because four of our six adopted kids joined our family when they were between seven and twelve years of age. They brought a lot of emotional, unwanted baggage with them from their past lives. Now they are all grown up and doing okay. : – )