What if you woke up one morning a totally different person? Even more intriguing–you think you were a major jerk, but you don’t know why. Oh, and then you have a strong desire to tie a red sheet around your neck and begin rescuing trapped kittens out of trees and helping old ladies across the street.
The Red Sheet by Mia Kerick is a fascinating young adult novel that creates a unique “what if?” scenario. Bryan Dennison wakes up one morning and he’s a totally different person. Once a superjock, self-centered bully, the new Bryan is respectful to his mother, neighborly, and working hard at school. He’s also attracted to Scott Beckett, the former victim of his bullying, even though he can’t remember much about his relationship with Scott prior to his sudden change. As Bryan struggles to put the pieces together of who he used to be, Scott is not interested in anything the new and improved Bryan has to offer.
I can honestly say I’ve never read anything like this before. It is superb. Kerick puts together an intriguing novel where the main character shares his story the way in which it unfolded in front of him. What happened to him is so powerful, he must share it. The reader is asking the same questions that Bryan is considering at each point in the story. What happened before his change? Why was Bryan such an obnoxious jerk? What caused him to change? Why can’t he remember the way he acted toward Scott Beckett? And once everything is revealed, the reader might be more shocked than Bryan was.
My only nitpick is that there was too much swearing for my taste. It might be realistic, but I don’t care for it. The same story could be told with that aspect toned down and still have a great impact.
The Red Sheet is an excellent novel about bullying, being comfortable in your own skin, seeking forgiveness and being able to forgive. Its message is inspiring. Its plot unique. I think this is going to be a very popular book within its target market and beyond.
Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Mia Kerick’s Web Site:
http://miakerick.com/
Mia Kerick’s Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/mia.kerick
Mia Kerick’s Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6474518.Mia_Kerick?from_search=true
Mia Kerick’s YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a1Q093gJ1E
Mia Kerick’s Blog:
http://miakerick.com/blog/
The Red Sheet Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20619717-the-red-sheet
Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186
The Red Sheet blog tour site:
http://theredsheetblogtour.blogspot.com/
Prices/Formats: $6.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 190
Release: February 20, 2014
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
ISBN: 9781627987219
Amazon buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IJQS6KS?tag=tributebooks-20
Barnes and Noble buy link:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-red-sheet-mia-kerick/1118710756?ean=9781627987158
Dreamspinner Press buy link:
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4725
All Romance buy link:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theredsheet-1404989-149.html
Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five nonpedigreed cats—all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.
Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young men and their relationships, and she believes that sex has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.
Mia is proud of her involvement with the Human Rights Campaign and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of marital equality. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.
My themes I always write about:
Sweetness. Unconventional love, tortured/damaged heroes- only love can save them
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The Children's and Teens' Book Connection 
Cheryl, thanks for beautifully capturing the essence of Mia’s book and what sets it apart. I agree. I think it’s powerful enough to make any reader stop and think.
Thank you so very much for the thoughtful review of The Red Sheet. I enjoyed it and learned from it. By the way, I love the design of your blog. It is truly eye-catching!!
Thanks for the visit, ladies. Glad you liked the review. Thanks for the compliment on the blog, Mia.