Durable Goods by Elizabeth Berg

 I know I read this back in the day when June Apaza and I were TIE colleagues, and we both really enjoyed this one. It must have been prior to 2011, when I started this record, though, because it's not described here. My memory is that I enjoyed it on a flight sometime during my flying off to conferences era...and talked with June about it. I'll have to ask her.

At any rate, I loved it this time too. It is "early Berg" and so simple and powerful. She has so much empathy for her main character, Katie. She is only 13, and in the early sixties, Berg captures so much that I can relate to. It's just uncanny, the way she thinks! What is heart-breaking is how her father treats her, and how she is coping with the loss of her mother. Her description of her relationship with her older sister is heart-breaking, too, yet sweet when Diana lets her in. 

Berg captures so well the feelings I had as an early teen! The insecurities about what to wear, how to do my hair, and wanting to be older and have more autonomy. Happily, my family life was rich and wonderful, but there are still parts that resonate with me. I also like the way she describes Katie's friend Cherylanne. I knew girls like this, too, and it's just fun reading about how she relates to the world, always knows about make-up and hair and how to deport properly. She's hilarious!  And Cherylanne's mother, Belle, is such a good example of how one caring adult can make a big difference in a child's life. 

Katie becomes very insightful about her father and why he's the way he is. It's with a lot of compassion and beginnings of understanding.