Review: Waiting To Forget by Sheila Kelly Welch

Waiting To Forget

By: Sheila Kelly Welch

Pub. Date: October 1, 2011

Publisher: Namelos

Pages: 172

Source: Netgalley

T.J. has always looked out for his little sister, Angela. When Momma used to go out and leave them home alone, he'd lock the door so they'd be safe, keep Angela entertained, and get out the cereal and milk for her. When Momma's boyfriend got angry at them, he'd try to protect Angela. Later, at their foster homes, T.J. was the only one who knew how to coax his little sister out of her bad moods. The only one who understood why she made origami paper cranes and threw them out the window.

But now T.J. is sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, wondering if Angela, unconscious after a fall, will ever wake up. Wondering, too, if he will ever feel at home with his and Angela's new parents—Marlene, who insists on calling him Timothy, and Dan, who seems to want a different son.

Going back and forth between Now and Then, weaving the uncertain present with the painful past, T.J.'s story unfolds, and with the unfolding comes a new understanding of how to move forward.

 Waiting To Forget is a very fast and emotional read. Since there mother left them alone when she went to Vegas with her boyfriend, TJ and Angela have been in foster care. Their mother was only supposed to go for the weekend, but when she didn't come home a week later, TJ called their social worker. TJ has always taken care of his baby sister and now he is waiting in an emergency room with their adoptive family waiting to see if she is ever going to wake up.

While he is waiting for news, TJ is looking through his life book, a scrapbook that his social worker had him make before the adoption and we learn about their mom, her boyfriends, foster care, and eventually what led them to this day in the ER.

Waiting To Forget is a very touching story. We see how TJ is adjusting to his life with his new family. He doesn't feel like he fits in with them, and he feels that he is a disappointment to his new dad. He misses his mom. He doesn't ever open up to anyone and talk about his feelings. Everything about him screams sad and lonely. It broke my heart because the kid is only 12 years old.

The ending was beautiful! I could not have asked for a better ending. I think it fit perfectly and I loved watching TJ heal and gain the strength to move on from his heartbreaks.