Editorial Review:

At first, leaving home in the middle of the night seemed exciting to Sarah Jane, an adventure. It also seemed necessary. Sarah Jane had heard the arguments between her mother and father. She had seen the bruises shadowing Mama's perfectly made-up face. And when Daddy finally turned his anger on Sarah Jane, Mama seemed to wake up and decide that enough was enough. Now they're living at the Sweetwater Motel in Ohio, "The Heart of It All." For Sarah Jane, the adventure is over and reality has set in. Money is tight, nerves are frayed. Sarah Jane misses her best friend, her books, her grandma, the horse she always rode. She even misses her daddy, although she'd never dare tell Mama. As life becomes more difficult, Sarah Jane begins to regret their escape. Can a motel ever really be home? Can they be a family without Daddy?

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Not Alone During Tough Times:

I loved reading this book. The author tells a tale of alcohol and spousal abuse that finally comes to an end when Sarah Jane's mother leaves in the middle of the night with her two girls. Sarah Jane prays to God for things to be better and her prayers are very young and innocent. I found that the author captured many of the feelings that a 12 year old girl would have in this situation. This book has been recommended for readers aged 10-14. I found the book very enjoyable and I'm 36. I wish I could have... more info

So very much worth reading:

April Young Fritz delivers a wonderful, insightful book that can teach all of us, whatever our age, about life. She's a great writer. I'm recommending PRAYING AT THE SWEETWATER MOTEL to all of my friends, young and not-so-young. May this author pen many more wonderful and heartfelt tales.

A Character to Fall In Love With!:

Sarah Jane is a a girl after my own heart.

In this truthful look at a family gone wrong, we experience Sarah jane's pain and confusion about her father's abuse.

With humor and an understanding of human nature, April Young Fritz takes a hard subject and makes it accessible to mid-grade readers. A must-have for all middle school libraries. You will not be disappointed with this read!

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