. Balzer+Bray (HarperCollins), April 2012. 288p. $15.99. 978-0-0619-64206.Genre: Realistic (foster kids)
Rating: I really liked it!
Meet Stella, an 11-year-old who is just at her Great Aunt Louise's for the summer she hopes or as soon as her mom pulls her self together to come and get her. And then meet Angel, an 11-year-old determined to save up enough money to leave Louise's and get back with her family.
These two girls are being fostered by Louise in a small beach community. Louise lives in a big, old house with a wonderful garden. She's big and old herself but that doesn't stop her from taking care of the six cottages they rent to tourists each summer. But, this year, she's glad to have the help of Stella and Angel. Unfortunately, those two don't get along. And that's just the beginning of their unfortunate summer!
The first unfortunate part for me was the ease I found in putting this book down. I was mostly vested when I was reading it, but, if anything else looked interesting, I did it. I think it was because there were too many points where the author told us things we should have been trying to figure out. Like "the back of my neck felt the way an alarm bell sounds, as if my skin were ringing." the first part of that sentence was perfect, I could picture the tight, loud feeling of her neck. I wonder if it's because Pennypacker normally writes for a much younger audience? The second unfortunate part for me was how long the girls were able to fool everyone around them. Are grown-ups really that clueless?
Overall, though, I liked how Stella and Angel accepted their differences and started working together. I also loved the ending. Give this one to fans of Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LeFleur.
Oh, don't you just love that cover? I do. It's what pushed it up on the TBR pile for me.
I'm curious to read more Sara Pennypacker. We are huge fans of her Clementine series but this is her first book that steps out of that box, right?
ReplyDeleteIt is and I hope it isn't the last! I like her style!
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