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Dear Nobody
The moving and very real story of two teenagers and an unplanned pregnancy. It is told from two viewpoints - that of Helen as she writes her thoughts in a series of letters to the unborn baby, the Dear Nobody of the title, and of Chris as he reads the letters and relives events as Helen is in labour.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Berlie Doherty
108 books75 followersBerlie Doherty née Hollingsworth is an English novelist, poet, playwright and screenwriter. She is best known for children's books, for which she has twice won the Carnegie Medal.She has also written novels for adults, plays for theatre and radio, television series and libretti for children's opera.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
October 23, 2022
I was when I started reading Berlie Doherty's 1991 Carnegie Medal winning young adult novel Dear Nobody a bit worried regarding the two distinct points of view Doherty presents because I much too often have found dual voiced fiction problematic and often showing one decent but then one rather lame and textually lacking perspective. But no and thankfully, Berlie Doherty delightfully shows in Dear Nobody two totally wonderful and equally readable, equally emotionally stimulating and thought-provoking narratives, with first-person musings representing the events of Helen's unexpected unwanted pregnancy (and after only making love one time) as her boyfriend Chris recalls them in retrospect, and interspersed with a series of letters from Helen to their unborn and unnamed child, telling her side of the story as she experiences and contemplates it.
With the framing sequence that starts Dear Nobody set in the autumn as Chris is on the verge of leaving his home city of Sheffield for Newcastle University and a parcel of letters being delivered to him, recognising Helen's handwriting, Chris begins to read these epistles (all addressed to "Dear Nobody"). And whilst reading the letters, Christ recalls the past nine months, how Helen's unexpected pregnancy changes everything between them and their relationship, that they do try to make things work, but that ultimately, albeit Helen decides against an abortion and on keeping the baby, she also thinks that she and Chris should break up, leaving Chris feeling discarded and bereft, but that after finishing with the "Dear Nobody" letters, Chris realises that Helen is about to have her baby, rushes to the hospital and gets to meet his newborn daughter, who will be called Amy. And while Dear Nobody does (and realistically) not end up with Chris and Helen getting back together, there is still a bit of hope that perhaps sometime in the future, Helen, Chris and their daughter might perhaps become a family (and that Chris is definitely planning on being present in Amy's life as her father).
Now I have actually not read all that many novels which have teenaged pregnancy as the main theme, but from those that I have read, Dear Nobody has definitely been my favourite. For I do absolutely love and appreciate how neither Chris nor Helen is presented by Berlie Doherty as negative or as blameworthy, but simply as two teenagers who ended up with an unwanted pregnancy (and not to mention that Helen's and Chris' own issues with their respective families are portrayed gracefully and with much understanding all around by Doherty's dual voiced texts, and with the main theme of Dear Nobody being not only Helen and Chris' relationship but also how everything is tied together and that love can be both wonderful and painful, requires understanding and a willingness to accept problematic and uncomfortable scenarios, such as for example and of course unwanted pregnancy and how society reacts to this).
Emotionally intense and beautifully written, and with a wonderful and descriptively lovely and enlightening sense of geographical place is Dear Nobody (and with me not only finding both Helen and Chris relatable and totally kindred spirits but that I also now after having finished with Dear Nobody totally want to visit Sheffield and Newcastle), for me, Dear Nobody is solidly and delightfully five stars and is also one of the best Carnegie Medal winners I have read to date (and indeed, that I do not often give five star ratings).
With the framing sequence that starts Dear Nobody set in the autumn as Chris is on the verge of leaving his home city of Sheffield for Newcastle University and a parcel of letters being delivered to him, recognising Helen's handwriting, Chris begins to read these epistles (all addressed to "Dear Nobody"). And whilst reading the letters, Christ recalls the past nine months, how Helen's unexpected pregnancy changes everything between them and their relationship, that they do try to make things work, but that ultimately, albeit Helen decides against an abortion and on keeping the baby, she also thinks that she and Chris should break up, leaving Chris feeling discarded and bereft, but that after finishing with the "Dear Nobody" letters, Chris realises that Helen is about to have her baby, rushes to the hospital and gets to meet his newborn daughter, who will be called Amy. And while Dear Nobody does (and realistically) not end up with Chris and Helen getting back together, there is still a bit of hope that perhaps sometime in the future, Helen, Chris and their daughter might perhaps become a family (and that Chris is definitely planning on being present in Amy's life as her father).
Now I have actually not read all that many novels which have teenaged pregnancy as the main theme, but from those that I have read, Dear Nobody has definitely been my favourite. For I do absolutely love and appreciate how neither Chris nor Helen is presented by Berlie Doherty as negative or as blameworthy, but simply as two teenagers who ended up with an unwanted pregnancy (and not to mention that Helen's and Chris' own issues with their respective families are portrayed gracefully and with much understanding all around by Doherty's dual voiced texts, and with the main theme of Dear Nobody being not only Helen and Chris' relationship but also how everything is tied together and that love can be both wonderful and painful, requires understanding and a willingness to accept problematic and uncomfortable scenarios, such as for example and of course unwanted pregnancy and how society reacts to this).
Emotionally intense and beautifully written, and with a wonderful and descriptively lovely and enlightening sense of geographical place is Dear Nobody (and with me not only finding both Helen and Chris relatable and totally kindred spirits but that I also now after having finished with Dear Nobody totally want to visit Sheffield and Newcastle), for me, Dear Nobody is solidly and delightfully five stars and is also one of the best Carnegie Medal winners I have read to date (and indeed, that I do not often give five star ratings).
July 31, 2017
There are literally no redeeming qualities about this book.
The plot wasn't interesting, I couldn't sympathise with the characters, and it honestly felt like I was reading a first draft. Also, there seems to be a distinct aversion to commas, what did the comma ever do to you?
It also irritated me that the author name-dropped so many places and streets around Sheffield - ok, I get it, you went to Sheffield to do research, well done, now please stop showing off. I don't need all this information and it's really distracting. I don't think it adds to the book at all unless the reader is familiar with Sheffield.
I haven't had an excuse to dig out a 1 star rating in a while, but this book left me with no other option.
The plot wasn't interesting, I couldn't sympathise with the characters, and it honestly felt like I was reading a first draft. Also, there seems to be a distinct aversion to commas, what did the comma ever do to you?
It also irritated me that the author name-dropped so many places and streets around Sheffield - ok, I get it, you went to Sheffield to do research, well done, now please stop showing off. I don't need all this information and it's really distracting. I don't think it adds to the book at all unless the reader is familiar with Sheffield.
I haven't had an excuse to dig out a 1 star rating in a while, but this book left me with no other option.
July 23, 2018
Supongo que lo leí en un momento equivocado. Una pena, podría haber sido un libro muy bonito.
February 9, 2016
Este es, tal vez, uno de los libros que más tiempo ha pasado de que lo leí en la biblioteca. Apareció ante mi hace aproximadamente 13 años y hay sólo un detalle que hace que lo recuerde.
A modo de novela epistolar nos cuenta como Helen, la protagonista, le va contando a su feto las desventuras que su embarazo le ha traído. Parte te deja con la sensación de que esta compartiendo su vida, otra te deja con la visión de que culpa a "Querido nadie" por todo lo que acontece en su vida. La historia se lee fácil, usa un lenguaje apropiado para quien sea que lo lea y logras asimilar lo que pasa. Chris, el padre, es de esos personajes que pareciera están como mero adorno. Su participación activa se limita al coito y a ser invisible el resto del tiempo.
¿Memorable? Para nada, sólo el título, que es la razón por la cual lo recuerdo.
A modo de novela epistolar nos cuenta como Helen, la protagonista, le va contando a su feto las desventuras que su embarazo le ha traído. Parte te deja con la sensación de que esta compartiendo su vida, otra te deja con la visión de que culpa a "Querido nadie" por todo lo que acontece en su vida. La historia se lee fácil, usa un lenguaje apropiado para quien sea que lo lea y logras asimilar lo que pasa. Chris, el padre, es de esos personajes que pareciera están como mero adorno. Su participación activa se limita al coito y a ser invisible el resto del tiempo.
¿Memorable? Para nada, sólo el título, que es la razón por la cual lo recuerdo.
March 19, 2020
Un libro que te hace pensar y reflexionar, no lo veo solamente una lectura juvenil, tiene mensajes bonitos e importantes para un amplio abanico de lectores.
November 14, 2015
Although a Puffin book because it is marketed as teenage fiction, Dear Nobody is a lot more grown up than much of the juvenile nonsense that passes for adult fiction these days. The only reason I can see that it is pigeon-holed as a teenage fiction is that the two main characters are 18-year-olds — nothing else. The story is beautifully told, the characters well-rounded, and their emotional life made real. It tells of family, inheritance, and growing up. There is an attention to detail in the story-telling that places you there as a reader: like the description of the grandfather’s bonfire and the toad, followed by the imagery of the bits of privet that her grandfather tidies up, looking like a bridal bouquet.
I love the way the novel has aged — taking you back to a time when teenagers had to conduct romances in whispered voices from telephones in the hall or from public phone boxes. None of you’re Skyping and instant-messaging back then.
I thought there was a bit of a missed opportunity to really tied the book to Sheffield — particularly in the character of the grandfather who only lets slip and occasional “ay” and “reckon” and a single “nowt”. It is a shame, but perhaps it is not regarded as doing a book many favours in its marketability to tie it too closely to a region.
One small annoyance was the creeping in of errors in the Kindle version: probably errors of setting up the e-book file and not checking it properly. Not what you expect from Penguin.
1 of 34 Sheffield novels reviewed at: http://stevek1889.blogspot.co.uk/2014...
I love the way the novel has aged — taking you back to a time when teenagers had to conduct romances in whispered voices from telephones in the hall or from public phone boxes. None of you’re Skyping and instant-messaging back then.
I thought there was a bit of a missed opportunity to really tied the book to Sheffield — particularly in the character of the grandfather who only lets slip and occasional “ay” and “reckon” and a single “nowt”. It is a shame, but perhaps it is not regarded as doing a book many favours in its marketability to tie it too closely to a region.
One small annoyance was the creeping in of errors in the Kindle version: probably errors of setting up the e-book file and not checking it properly. Not what you expect from Penguin.
1 of 34 Sheffield novels reviewed at: http://stevek1889.blogspot.co.uk/2014...
December 22, 2015
All I can say is wow.
Wow.
Literally wow.
What an emotional story which generally made my heart break into two. So why the three star rating I hear you ask? I'll explain.
Although I feel that the topic about teen pregnancy was covered well, the overall feel of the story I found was quite depressing. I have read emotional stories in my time but I read this story when I was having a really down day and it made my sadness increase further. This story is about Helen and Chris, a couple in love and trying to get out there in the world by going to University/College but that plan is thwarted somewhat when Helen finds out she is expecting a baby. Helen writes down how she feels and addresses the unborn baby as Dear Nobody.
The ending of the story did make me cry but without wanting to give things away, again, I could tell beforehand what was going to happen at the end and this time, I was half right.
Maybe I was the wrong target audience for this story, I really don't know. Maybe I just read the story on the wrong day in the wrong frame of mind. But it simply wasn't for me. I found parts too upsetting to read.
I do recommend the story though to anyone who is interested in the teen pregnancy topic and the inner thoughts of a teen mother to be.
Wow.
Literally wow.
What an emotional story which generally made my heart break into two. So why the three star rating I hear you ask? I'll explain.
Although I feel that the topic about teen pregnancy was covered well, the overall feel of the story I found was quite depressing. I have read emotional stories in my time but I read this story when I was having a really down day and it made my sadness increase further. This story is about Helen and Chris, a couple in love and trying to get out there in the world by going to University/College but that plan is thwarted somewhat when Helen finds out she is expecting a baby. Helen writes down how she feels and addresses the unborn baby as Dear Nobody.
The ending of the story did make me cry but without wanting to give things away, again, I could tell beforehand what was going to happen at the end and this time, I was half right.
Maybe I was the wrong target audience for this story, I really don't know. Maybe I just read the story on the wrong day in the wrong frame of mind. But it simply wasn't for me. I found parts too upsetting to read.
I do recommend the story though to anyone who is interested in the teen pregnancy topic and the inner thoughts of a teen mother to be.
January 20, 2014
Berlie Doherty skill lies in writing. What always amazes me is how beautiful a book can be written – especially if it is short. In this YA book, which is about teenage pregnancy, documented month by month. I found the structure of this novel interesting, as Chris was telling the story but it was interspersed with Helen’s ‘Dear Nobody’ letters. I thought the two main characters were very well fleshed out. As for the topic of teenage pregnancy, I thought it was very well handled in this book. However, it did leave an unmistakable taste of Waterloo Road in my mouth. That said I really did enjoy reading this! The writing was so beautiful, so I’ll leave with a quote.
‘Late January. The sort of day that never really starts, when daylight hardly happens and night folds in by mid-afternoon, hushing everything back to sleep again.’
January 20, 2018
Un libro que me leí hace muchos años sobre un embarazo adolescente. Esta historia trata sobre Helen y Chris, una pareja enamorada que quieren ir a la Universidad, pero ese plan se frustra un poco cuando Helen descubre que está esperando un bebé. Helen escribe cómo se siente y se dirige al bebé llamándolo Nadie.
Es un libro entretenido aunque un poco deprimente en algunos aspectos.
Es un libro entretenido aunque un poco deprimente en algunos aspectos.
July 25, 2015
This is a good story, even if it doesn't have a fairytale ending.
July 22, 2015
Me gustó más de lo que me hubiese imaginado.
La verdad siento que es un buen libro, es fácil de leer y me gustó bastante el formato de la novela; que pudiésemos ver ambos puntos de vista, el de Helen y el de Chris, esto hizo que entendiera toda la situación. También me gustó harto la manera de escribir de la autora; me gustó en especial como narraba las escena más emotivas y los adjetivos que usaba para estas.
Me gustó como supo llevar el tema del embarazo adolecente, pero lo que me sorprendió positivamente fue el aspecto de la familia y como fue tratado, en especial el tema de la madre y la abuela de Helen, me conmovió de veras como se fueron acercando al final de la novela Helen y su madre.
En fin, no encuentro que sea un libro espectacular pero si lo encontré bueno.
June 28, 2011
I thought this was a very realistic account of what might happen to a teenage couple when the girl gets pregnant. At first I had trouble understanding why Helen did what she did, but it was clear at the end it was the right thing.
My only issue with it would be that it is so negative - I ended up feeling sorry for just about everybody in the story, including the older generations and the baby. It would probably succeed in making teenagers take more to avoid pregnancy, but it would be a depressing read for any teenager who was already pregnant.
My only issue with it would be that it is so negative - I ended up feeling sorry for just about everybody in the story, including the older generations and the baby. It would probably succeed in making teenagers take more to avoid pregnancy, but it would be a depressing read for any teenager who was already pregnant.
September 7, 2015
Fácilmente se convirtió en uno de mis libros favoritos y en serio me hizo sentir una relación con los personajes.
Y entre todo esto el también el poema que dice:
A tus pies pondría todos mis tesoros
Pero en mi pobreza, poseo tan solo
Los sueños que ahora a tus pies extiendo,
Pisa suavemente, que pisas mis sueños
Y entre todo esto el también el poema que dice:
A tus pies pondría todos mis tesoros
Pero en mi pobreza, poseo tan solo
Los sueños que ahora a tus pies extiendo,
Pisa suavemente, que pisas mis sueños
April 13, 2018
Read this book a couple of times as a teen, I don't really remember the story besides the basic synopsis but I remember that it had made me cry and think about unusual topics (for me) like unwanted teen pregnancies and how one should/could react to it.
October 25, 2014
Beautifully told story about a teenage pregnancy.
October 20, 2017
Ugghhh I really didn't like this book at all.
January 1, 2023
Maybe it’s just aged poorly. Maybe in 1991 this was actually really progressive and meant to be a positive, helpful message for pregnant teenagers, but it gave me an unpleasant taste. I kept thinking I was gonna turn a page and find it had gone all pro-life on me, or else something shocking was going to happen to show teen readers that yes, you will suffer a horrible fate if you get pregnant.
November 6, 2023
Very intimate and vulnerable, I enjoyed reading it but I don’t think it was really the right genre for me! But still very good!!
April 9, 2022
This book is my comfort book despite how boring it is...😂
Read
March 18, 2024this book is actually 233 pages not 170 🤓
August 11, 2024
I thought it was okay.
It was well written and had a solid plot. But for me it was just okay, some of the feelings can be felt but some just… flat?
It was well written and had a solid plot. But for me it was just okay, some of the feelings can be felt but some just… flat?
August 21, 2024
Típica lectura obligatoria del instituto, ñeh.
December 13, 2023
What the hell did we read in school?! I hated it!
January 3, 2024
I absolutely love this book and at the end when you find out why the book is laid out the way it is OMG it's so beautifully written! One of my favourite books by far! - this was my review in 2013 when I was 15
My review 2018- I am now using this book for a project at drama school and after re-reading it (now being 20) it wasn't as amazing as when I first read it but I did still love it and learnt some lessons from the book, still loved it a lot though!
My review 2018- I am now using this book for a project at drama school and after re-reading it (now being 20) it wasn't as amazing as when I first read it but I did still love it and learnt some lessons from the book, still loved it a lot though!
September 6, 2008
Schullektüre im Englisch-GK - eine der schlimmsten literarischen Erfahrungen, die ich bisher machen musste. EIne werdende Teenager-Mutter schreibt Briefe an den Embryo in ihrem Bauch. Schwer zu ertragen, zumal der Klappentext auch noch den einzigen Spannungspunkt von Beginn an zunichte macht: sie wird das Kind kriegen.
June 27, 2011
a very good book but it made me so sad. It's such a tough topic to write about, but I think the author did a good job. I would like to hope that I would handle this situation better than these parents.....but you just never know (as an adult, as a child) how you would handle this.
February 28, 2012
Au début, j'étais un peu sceptique mais finalement ce livre n'est pas mal du tout.
L'écriture est fort simple et j'ai trouvé les réactions des personnages plutôt réalistes.
Il est à la portée des plus jeunes.
C'est une bonne idée de parler d'un sujet si délacat dans un roman pour adolescents.
L'écriture est fort simple et j'ai trouvé les réactions des personnages plutôt réalistes.
Il est à la portée des plus jeunes.
C'est une bonne idée de parler d'un sujet si délacat dans un roman pour adolescents.
July 2, 2018
What I liked about this story is that two people Helen and Chrie give their point of views across. Helen gets pregnant and writes letters to her unborn baby calling it Nobody. This is a short paperback book.
Read
January 21, 2016Its not a thrilling book. But its a good start if you've had a long hiatus from reading any novel, like me.
The ending was satisfying, no plot twists, just a good closure.
Recommended for a light read only.
The ending was satisfying, no plot twists, just a good closure.
Recommended for a light read only.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews