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Deep Down True, with Giveaway

January 24, 2011 by 5 Minutes for Books

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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I liked the novel Deep Down True before I even read it. That’s right — I was liking it before I even read one page of the novel.

Author Juliette Fay prefaced the book with her acknowledgments, thanking those in her junior high school who were the rare combination of nice and popular and naming the friends who never betrayed her. She goes on to say that “Adolescents are an interesting bunch, prone to acts of both great generosity and great ferocity, and you never know which is coming at you till it’s in your face.”

Although junior high wasn’t a horrible time for me, I can relate. It was a learning and growing time. I began figuring out who I was. I learned (the hard way) who I could trust and who I couldn’t. I hurt others and I got hurt. I wasn’t one of the popular kids, but I had friends, and I was basically happy with who I was.

Deep Down True is a story about recently divorced Dana Stellgarten. Her kids are about the same age as mine — an almost 12-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy, which drew me in right away. When her 16-year-old niece has a falling out with her mom, she ends up in the household as well, providing both stability and some additional drama.

Dana is the kind of person who has always taken things as they come. She’s always been nice. She’s always been there for her kids and others. But when her ex-husband tells her he’s not going to be able to make his full support payments, she has to start thinking about herself when she gets a part-time job, and though it’s hard at first, I think she kind of likes it.

When she has to focus on herself and meeting the needs of her family, she also seems to become a real person again. Like her middle-school aged daughter, she finds herself wondering who she can really trust, who brings out the best in her, and who might be better to avoid. The novel begins with Dana feeling pretty one-dimensional — all mom all the time, but when her kids go off for a week with their dad, she has some time to just be, and it really benefits her.

This is a fairly light novel that deals with some heavy (yet unfortunately commonplace) issues such as teen rebellion, eating disorders, mean girls, insecurity, divorce, betrayal and forgiveness.

I loved Dana and the kids and especially her full-of-personality niece Alder and the kind man who gives her a job when she needs one. I laughed and shook my head in agreement and in disbelief over and over again while reading.

Deep Down True grabbed me with the acknowledgment page and didn’t let go until I read the last page.

We have one copy to give away (U.S. addresses only). Just leave a comment if you’d like to win, and we’ll announce the winner here in the weekly 5 Minutes for Books column on February 7.

  • The winner of The Read and Share Bible is #36 LaVonne.

Like books?? Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our 5 Minutes for Books feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter.

Book blogger Jennifer Donovan is so appreciative of those in her life who know what it is to be “deep down true,” which include friends, her kids, her husband and so many more. She blogs about other things she appreciates at Snapshot.

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About 5 Minutes for Books

5 Minutes for Books is the 5 Minutes for Mom sister site devoted to reviewing books for adults -- fiction, memoir, and nonfiction -- and kids of all ages.

Managed by Jennifer Donovan, other contributors are Dawn, Lauren, Nancy, and Elizabeth.

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58 Comments

  1. Liz says

    February 7, 2011 at 3:03 pm

    I need something good to read!

    Reply
  2. Ann B says

    February 7, 2011 at 6:51 am

    This sounds like a book you read, reflect on, and pass it on to someone else who can learn from it!

    Reply
  3. Christine W says

    February 7, 2011 at 1:43 am

    As a middle and high school teacher for 24 years, this sounds like a book that I would really like to read. This is a difficult time for students of this age.

    Reply
  4. Tiffany D. says

    February 7, 2011 at 12:57 am

    I have had this on my wish for some time now. I would love to win a copy! Thanks for the chance 🙂

    Reply
  5. brandy says

    February 6, 2011 at 7:10 pm

    I would love to read this book, I had heard great reviews about it.

    Reply
  6. Julie mom of 7 says

    February 4, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    What a good review , somthing that I can relate to with girls in both Middle & High school.
    Would like to win 🙂

    Reply
  7. Jill says

    February 3, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    This sounds like something both me and my mother-in-law could get into.

    Reply
  8. Christina says

    February 3, 2011 at 11:12 am

    I love your review – this sounds really, really interesting.

    Reply
  9. katklaw777 says

    February 2, 2011 at 8:38 am

    Big time snow as Blizzard 2011 hits my town.
    Time to curl up and read a good book, thanks.

    Reply
  10. Tonya says

    January 31, 2011 at 9:45 pm

    I’ve read a couple of reviews of this book and it sounds really good.

    Reply
  11. Tammy W says

    January 31, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    Sounds like a great book. I am a working mom of five with a stepdaughter… hmm.

    Reply
  12. riTa says

    January 31, 2011 at 9:34 am

    Sounds like it deals with some of the same issues we face in our extended family. YES, please add my name to the giveaway.

    Reply
  13. John says

    January 31, 2011 at 12:13 am

    Great giveaway, thank you!

    Reply
  14. Natalia says

    January 31, 2011 at 12:12 am

    Thanks for this review, sounds interesting.

    Reply
  15. BarbK says

    January 29, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    Sounds like a great book. Nice to read on a cold winters night. Thank you.

    Reply
  16. Dawn N. says

    January 28, 2011 at 1:31 am

    Awesome review! I wouldn’t want to revisit my adolescence for ANYTHING!! *sigh* But, I’d love to win this book!

    Reply
  17. nan says

    January 27, 2011 at 7:35 pm

    thanks for the chance
    nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net

    Reply
  18. Daniel M says

    January 27, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    I’d like to win, sounds interesting

    Reply
  19. Jessica H says

    January 27, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    Sounds like a good book. It seems particularly appealing to me since my parents are getting divorced, and I have siblings in elementary, middle and high school.

    Reply
  20. Beth C says

    January 27, 2011 at 9:31 am

    Please enter me for this book. Thanks!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    Reply
  21. Jessica T says

    January 26, 2011 at 11:41 pm

    Sounds like a great read!

    Reply
  22. Tia says

    January 26, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    I would like to win.
    [email protected]

    Reply
  23. Staci A says

    January 26, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    It sounds like a great book. I’d love to read it!

    Reply
  24. Some Lucky Dog says

    January 26, 2011 at 1:36 am

    I’d love to win and give thisa read!
    someluckydog at gmail dot com

    Reply
  25. Maureen says

    January 26, 2011 at 1:35 am

    Sounds like a great book – would love to read it. Thanks, Maureen (jnomaxx at hotmail dot com)

    Reply
  26. BRenda Rupp says

    January 25, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    Please enter me in the contest!
    I’m a subscriber of the blog.
    I liked your article on facebook.

    Thanks!

    Reply
  27. Christina says

    January 25, 2011 at 6:06 pm

    I have a tween at home who has just started experiencing being the odd one out, or not getting invited to everything they used to be invited to. We would both love to read this book.

    Reply
  28. Shari says

    January 25, 2011 at 10:44 am

    Sounds like a book both my mom and I would enjoy!

    Reply
  29. Terra Heck says

    January 25, 2011 at 4:57 am

    I’d like to read this book. Thanks.
    partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Reply
  30. Tammy Gordon says

    January 25, 2011 at 4:48 am

    Would love to win this. 🙂

    Reply
  31. Kelly Massman says

    January 24, 2011 at 10:42 pm

    Sure, I’d love to win! Thanks!
    kmassmanATgmailDOTcom

    Reply
  32. Web says

    January 24, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    My girlfriend recently convinced me to start reading fiction again. From your blog this sounds like a very good book. One of my resolutions is to add more variety to what I read so I think I will give this one a try.

    Reply
  33. Barbara Manatee says

    January 24, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    I’m always looking for a new, good book! thanks for the reviews!

    Reply
  34. Linda Kish says

    January 24, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    I would love to read this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  35. Ruthie B says

    January 24, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    Wonderful review…makes me want to read it!

    ruthiekb72ATyahooDOTcom

    Reply
  36. april yedinak says

    January 24, 2011 at 8:16 pm

    This sounds like something I would enjoy!
    ape2016(at)aol(dot)com

    Reply
  37. Terri says

    January 24, 2011 at 7:16 pm

    Sounds like a great book. Keeping my fingers crossed…
    [email protected]

    Reply
  38. edj says

    January 24, 2011 at 7:07 pm

    Sign me up.

    Reply
  39. Karen says

    January 24, 2011 at 6:02 pm

    Sounds like a great book, thanks!

    Reply
  40. Martha says

    January 24, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    I would love to read this book! I work at a library and we could use these type of books!

    Reply
  41. Carol Wong says

    January 24, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    This book sounds so great. I thinkwe need more books like this one. Please ente me in thiscontest.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    Reply
  42. Vilmarys says

    January 24, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    I’d love to win this! Thank you 🙂

    Reply
  43. Laura says

    January 24, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    Sounds Like an awesome book would love to read it and also pass it on so that my friends could read it as well. Hoping I win this book would be a blessing if not will have to see where I can purchase it so that I can read and share it with my friends.

    Reply
  44. Cory says

    January 24, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    Thanks for the chance.
    mychancetowin at gmail dot com

    Reply
  45. Dani says

    January 24, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    Sounds like a good read!

    Reply
  46. Nadine B says

    January 24, 2011 at 12:37 pm

    Would love to read this book

    Reply
  47. Erica Rivera says

    January 24, 2011 at 12:37 pm

    Sounds like a great book. @EnjChichi333

    Reply
  48. Katrina says

    January 24, 2011 at 12:02 pm

    I would love to win! I’m always looking for new, wonderful books to read.

    Reply
  49. Amy says

    January 24, 2011 at 10:53 am

    Sounds like an interesting book. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

    Reply
  50. Elizabeth says

    January 24, 2011 at 10:25 am

    I would absolutely love that!

    Reply
  51. debbie says

    January 24, 2011 at 9:59 am

    I would love to read it, it sounds really good.
    [email protected]

    Reply
  52. cindy says

    January 24, 2011 at 9:18 am

    This looks like a great book!!!!

    Reply
  53. Sandra K321 says

    January 24, 2011 at 8:49 am

    Sounds like a good “snuggle up on the couch with a blanket on a cold night” book.

    Reply
  54. Julie says

    January 24, 2011 at 8:07 am

    This books sounds great – I’m always looking for a new author to read.

    Reply
  55. stacie says

    January 24, 2011 at 7:11 am

    @smw2485 i would love to win

    Reply
  56. Shondra says

    January 24, 2011 at 12:10 am

    Wow…what a great review. Sounds like a book I’d love to read. Thanks for this giveaway.

    Reply

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