There is surely nothing more unforgivable than a parent who betrays the trust of his/her child. In this compelling story, Elizabeth and her sister, Jaime, have a violent, alcoholic father who is divorced from their mother. Their mother is nurturing until she meets Terrance, a convicted sex offender, and marries him, fully aware of his history. Elizabeth and Jaime are left to decide whether to live with their alcoholic father and his new wife or stay with their mom and the looming threat of Terrance. They are shuffled from one relative's home to another until a crisis is reached. Elizabeth's story is especially heartbreaking as she searches for a place to belong and be safe, while continuing to be concerned for Jaime's well-being. ( )

Hand Me Down was a difficult and emotional book to get through.
At the heart of this novel is fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Reid who is trying to survive as best she can in the dysfunction she is being raised in.
It was hard to read about this young girl as she goes through the most difficult years of her life, the years where she should have a strong support system and be surrounded by those who love her, just trying to find a place to call home.

Liz is forced to leave home after her mother Linda marries a convicted sex offender named Terrance. Linda decides to send her daughters away so she and Terrance can begin a new life together.

Liz really has no one to turn to and rather than being put into the system, she chooses to stay quiet and get through as best as she can. She has lived most of her life being the adult in her household, caring for her younger sister Jaime.

At every turn, Liz is suspicious of people, and doesn't want to get too close or trust anyone, knowing too well that her entire world can fall out right from under her.

One thing that really got under my skin was how Liz's mom Linda just turns a blind eye to Terrance's behavior time and again. It seems no matter what he does, she puts him before her daughters.

Author Melanie Thorne does a fantastic job at getting the reader to care about Liz and Jaime. She drew me in with her storytelling. Hand Me Down is well written, the storyline is emotional and as you read about these characters you can't help but shed a tear during certain scenes.

Liz is truly a survivor, she takes care of her little sister no questions asked and she feels guilty if Jaime is hurt.
I really felt the connection between the two sisters and I as I read, I found myself unable to turn the pages fast enough at certain parts because I wanted to see if Liz and Jaime were alright.

There are two glimmers of hope for the girls, their aunts Deborah and Tammy.
Tammy is a mother figure to Liz, and when Liz stays with her in Utah is when she finally feels like she is home.
Jaime seems to fit right into Deborah's household and is welcomed with open arms.

In this passage you get a sense of Liz's desperation. This really sums it all up.

"I smash my boots into snowdrifts, kick frozen grass, melt snowballs in my fists. I spin and stomp on the snow in Tammy's yard until I realize I'm screaming with my mouth ripped open, my teeth and throat bared to the sky and my chest constricting in the cold. I howl under the stars until my lungs are dry and I can't breathe, but the snow swallows my voice. The frosty white carpet and thick air absorb every resonance before it has a chance to ripple out into the night, and even as loud as I cry, no one can hear me."
-p. 100, Hand Me Down

Reading this books was emotionally draining. It truly is a heart wrenching read, at times I had to put the book down. Towards the end it all comes to a climax, and although the end was bittersweet, it was as I hoped it might be. ( )