The characters in this book were so beautifully written and real. The intertwining of current life and past coming of age with current coming of age was beautiful. You would like to have these people as your friends and neighbors. Amazing book to just get lost in for a while.

Have you ever wondered what your parents or grandparents were like when they were young? Who their friends and crushes were, what hobbies they enjoyed, or how they handled school? Were they mischievous or well-behaved? Did they get along with their families, and did their childhood experiences shape the way they raised you?

Teenager Rayna gets the opportunity to find out when she discovers her grandmother Jera’s journals from 1984–1985, written when Jera was just 14 years old. Jera initially started writing the journal for her English class, naming it Alderon. Through her diary entries, she shares stories about school, friendships, different parenting styles (hers and her friends’), and the grief and depression of a family member—whom she supports throughout their struggles.

For Rayna, finding these journals is especially meaningful. After losing both of her parents, she now lives with her grandparents, and at the time of her discovery, Jera is recovering from brain surgery to remove a tumour. As Rayna reads through the pages of Alderon, she reflects on her own grief and her relationships and learns new facts and details about her family—especially about her grandmother.

This is a coming-of-age novel, told across 2 different generations, and is beautifully written, using a relatable and authentic teenage voice in Jera. The language is simple, without complex words or overly dramatic scenarios. Instead, we experience the raw emotions of two teenagers from different time periods and see how themes—such as loss, grief, school, friendships, parenting, and love—remain the same despite the very different generations.

It was so easy to connect with Jera. She is friendly and funny, and her mentions of cassettes, landline, and payphones brought so much nostalgia. I would have loved to spend more time inside Rayna’s mind, getting to know her even better, and I especially wished for more moments of her interacting with her grandmother after reading the journals. The ending left me wanting more.

Overall, this was an easy yet captivating read about the struggles of adolescence, loss, grief, friendships, family dynamics, and self-discovery.

Thank you, #netgalley, the publishers and author for the opportunity to read this beautiful book.

I like the idea of a teenager that finds a journal from the 80's and reads it. The difference between the two teenagers are not that big so it was hard to differentiate the two narrators at time. Still a very nice read!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

When I read this book, I felt like a middle school girl again! This book pulled me in with the story of the awkward teenage years, growing up, overcoming struggles, and navigating through awkward but relateable situations teens often find themselves in.

The setting is so well done that it feels like stepping into the past. From cassette tapes and payphones to the simpler way people connected back then, it brought back memories I could relate to. It was fun to be in that time capsule as I remembered my own growing-up stories.

The emotions and challenges of growing up are universal. It feels like the writer is talking directly to you, sharing lessons that still matter today.

If you’re looking for a story that blends real-life lessons with a fun and nostalgic trip to the past, *Dear Alderone* is worth reading.

A very sweet series of journal entries from a teen growing up in the 80s, read by her great grandchild their teenage years. This was an easy, breezy one and the voice of a journaling teen was v authentic. I feel that more could have been made of the present day teen, though - for the first third of the book, I struggled to differentiate between narrators.

A 14 year old girl has to keep a journal for school. She believes her life is boring. Years later her granddaughter finds and reads it. It’s a reminder of our lives, the same and different all at once.

Dear Alderone by Ami Hendrickson is an emotional, introspective novel told through letters. The protagonist reflects on themes of loss, healing, and self-discovery, creating an intimate connection with readers. Hendrickson’s lyrical prose captures the slow process of healing, making it a poignant read for those who enjoy reflective, character-driven stories. The multigenerational voices attract w wide audience and provide relatable situations and content throughout this heartfelt novel.

I enjoyed this book and reading gj's story. I felt like I was with her as she went through her year in school. I really liked Trey and all of the other characters. They were all different yet fit into each other's lives perfectly. Time doesn't change that. I'm sure that we all have people in our lives that fit the way they are supposed to.

At first I had a hard time following who was writing, but as the book went on, I was able to figure that out easily. I think this was a nice easy read. It was heartbreaking, funny and felt very much like I was there.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Life to Paper Publishing for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this it was full of emotion and brought out emotions in myself. It was really sweet seeing the granddaughter see her gj life at the same age as herself. Very nostalgic too back to when I was a teen in the 90s and journaled. A lovely story of friendship, family, love, grief, growing up and family dynamics

The book kept my interest. I did enjoy the grandmother’s story more. I read this on my kindle and feel like it is one that would be more enjoyable to read as a traditional book due to the back and forth between the storylines. The cover art was fantastic.