I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler

Genre:  YA, realistic fiction
Published:  May 2011, 285 pp. (Sourcebooks Fire)
Source:  Review copy from publisher
Review:  4/5 stars

Brief Summary:  (From goodreads.com) Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that’s okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their place. Until Kristina is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly Tess is the center of the popular crowd, everyone eager for updates. There are senior boys flirting with her. Yet the smiles of her picture-perfect family are cracking and her sister could be dying. Now Tess has to fill a new role: the strong one. Because if she doesn’t hold it together, who will?


My Thoughts:  I liked this book.  If you remember, I thought Janet Gurtler's other book, If I Tell, was only so-so.  I enjoyed this one much more.  I've read other blogs comparing Gurtler to Sarah Dessen and I agree.

What I liked about this book was the transformation of the relationships in this family as they deal with the fear and devastation of cancer.  I didn't like some of the plot.  There were just so many issues and so much going on.  It felt a little contrived at times but I still enjoyed the book.

Recommendations:  I would recommend this to anyone who likes realistic fiction a la Sarah Dessen.

Ratings: 2.1.2  Includes teenagers having sex but not described, moderate profanity including vain references to Deity.


Thanks for reading!