Rating: 
Summary: Endearing and enjoyable
Review: As a mother, and author of a book for mothers (NEW PSALMS FOR NEW MOMS: A KEEPSAKE JOURNAL), I just wanted to give the main character Katie, and her abused sister, a big hug. This touching tale is a good reminder that we all need to be aware of abused children and not just look the other way. Let's all strive to cherish our ALL of our children.
Rating: 
Summary: Not my fav
Review: I wasn't crazy about this book. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't my cup of tea. It read almost like a journal (in Katie's voice) and dealt with her problems of her mother's death, her abuse by her father, her first period and first kiss, and her sister running away, among others. I put this book in the same category as _Seventeeth Summer_ by Maureen Daly. To me, it was boring and slow and little character developement.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Short novel, the first in a series, about a little girl named Katie and her life on a Texan army base. Since their mother died, Katie and her older sister Diane have been struggling to grow up with only their distant, sometimes violent father to guide them. Diane escapes into the arms of her boyfriend Dickie, while Katie hides in her room or flees to her best friend Cherylanne's house. And they're managing, they're growing up, they're reasonably happy. Until the inevitable news comes once again -- it's time for another transfer to another base. Only this time, the strong-willed Diane has had enough. She won't move again -- she won't start all over again. She can't. So she and Dickie pack Katie up and take off for Mexico, for an adventure that changes Katie's life forever.Even though I only spent about two hours with Katie, the narrator of this 200 page novel, as a military kid myself, I related to a lot of her emotions. Though my father wasn't violent like hers, they had other things in common. And other elements of military life, particularly the mixture of emotions you feel every time you have to start all over -- again. I feel in love with Katie and her resilience and will be looking for the next book in this series right away. Recommended!
Rating:
Summary: A "Katie" trilogy
Review: Elizabeth Berg has created a hero of young girls with Katie, the 12 year old army brat (a brat she is not). Katie and her 18 year old sister are trying to cope with their verbally and physically abusive father. All of them are recently reeling from the death of their mother from cancer . A difficult age at 12, Katie has befriended another army brat next door. Although somewhat submissive to this friend, Katie is happy to have the sophisticated advice from her slightly older friend about everything from how to do your nail to menstral issues. With her older sister distracted by a boyfriend, she does the best she can to fill in the blanks of surviving adolescence. Her older sister, Diane is not only taking blows from the father, but verbal abuse especially in regards to her relationship with her boyfriend Dickie. It is not an infrequent occurance for Diane to take physical punishment to protect Katie. Now 18, Diane makes up her mind to leave home with Dickie. She urges her little sister to come with her as she is afraid that when she leaves home, her father's bitter wrath will make Katie his next domestic victim. It is difficult for Katie. She alternates between loyalty for her father, anger and the angst of adolescent confusion. At the last minute, she elopes with Diane and Dickie. Two books take up where this one leaves off. Quick and rewarding reads, Katie becomes the unsung hero of young girls and Elizabeth Berg fans everywhere.
Rating:
Summary: A STORY OF THE HEART!
Review: This story is narrated by 12 yr. old Katie who lives on a small army base in Texas with her father and 18 yr. old sister Diane. Katie's mother died of cancer leaving a big emptiness in Katie's heart. Katie has longings for her life to change; wishes that her father would stop yelling at her and hitting her, that she would meet a boy who would love her as much as Dickie Mac loves her sister....She knows that changes are just around the corner. Her best friend, Cherylanne is two yrs. older than Katie and lives next door to her. Cherylanne sees herself as an expert in many things such as fashion, make up, boys, behavior, etc. and tells Katie what she should do about everything. Katie always felt that Cherylanne was superior to her but misses her terribly when she has to move once again when her father is transferred....Katie has to start all over again with new friends, new neighborhood, new school, etc. Because her father is in the military, Katie has lived this way her whole life, but now without her mother and without her sister who has run away from home she is finding life very lonely. She does keep in touch with Cherylanne by writing to her and phoning her. Katie's story continues in Elizabeth Berg's book "True to Form". If you liked this book, you will certainly want to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Durable Goods- A good read
Review: This book is written with beautiful language. Elizabeth Berg shows the sadness and confusion a young girl has when torn between a sister she loves and a father who she knows, in his own way, loves her. She is trying to find herself in a world without the mother she held dear. This is a wonderful book.
Rating:
Summary: Kate is a tough young girl.
Review: Elizabeth Berg knows how to get the reader into the story. From the first few pages I felt like I wanted to know so much more about Katie and her life and family. Katie is 12 years old and an army kid who is living in Texas with my dad and sister Diane. Her mother has just died recently and she is getting use to living without her and having to deal with the feelings and loss of her. Her father is a man who feels that he needs to control Diane and Katie's life. He is abusive towards them and doesn't know how to stop. When things get tough Katie tries to hid from it all. Diane her sister also trys to do the same thing but in different ways. Katie struggles with the things that happen in her life. The fact that she is always moving, her father hits her and Diane, she only has a few close friends and no real mother to show her life. When her father tells the girls they are moving again. Diane decides that she isn't going to go along with them and leaves and Katie decides to follow. What happens is what I expect, but I do love how much Diane loved her sister and how Katie survived it all. Overall I can't wait to start the next book about Katie.
Rating:
Summary: Fast, enjoyable read
Review: This book took one day to read. For me, the best aspect of it is that the author was able to create some three dimensional characters in a short amount of time. The totally self-centered Cherylanne has her admirable moments, and even the "bad guy-" the abusive father- is a sympathetic character. I also liked the realistic ending, for not being fairy tale-ish. Reading along, I kept wondering how the author was going to resolve things- I kept thinking "there is no way for there to be a happily ever after ending for this poor girl-" and there wasn't. I look forward to reading the sequel and finding out what happens to poor Katie and her family- especially since it will probably only take another few hours!
Rating:
Summary: A short, sweet read.
Review: This is the first novel I've read by Elizabeth Berg and it won't be the last. Her writing style makes you feel you know the characters even with the little background information given about them. "Durable Goods" is a simple and short story about pre-teen Katie who is presently living on an army base in Texas with her abusive father and older sister Diane. We are introduced to the characters in the middle of their lives after something terrible has happened, recently, in the family. Katie feels alone in her world. Her older sister doesn't pay much attention to her unless it's necessary and her best friend and neighbor, 14-year-old Cherylanne only spends time with her outside of school because of the age difference between them. Cherylanne teaches Katie about "grown up" things like boys, make-up, hair, and dating tips. They are close friends and spend much of their time together. This helps Katie escape from her world of torment for brief moments in her life. This story is wonderful but sad. The reader wishes they could take Katie out of her present home conditions and put her someplace where she can be happy all the time. Elizabeth Berg makes us care about the characters that we know so little about. "Durable Goods" and the sequel "Joy School" leaves the reader wondering what will happen to Katie and her family.
Rating:
Summary: I love Elizabeth Berg
Review: I read this AFTER I read Joy School (the sequel). This book might not really be worth 4 stars but I love Elizabeth's writing so much I can't give her less!
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