All bookseller links are provided so you can get more information about a book. We have affiliate relationships with Barefoot Books, Amazon.com, and Tapestry Books. All revenue generated from sales through these venues is used strictly to cover website costs and minimize donation requests and fundraising campaigns.
Perhaps the most serious problem with current literacy campaigns is that they ignore, and even divert attention from, ... More
Summary: Dani has been learning the family business all her life. She's visited lots of cities and been to some great houses. Her mom is very proud of Dani and how she can find anything she needs. But Dani hasn't found what she wants: roots. When Dani and her mom move to Heaven for the summer, a "real life" begins to unfold. She makes some friends, she meets a guy, and it's a summer just like "normal." But Dani's loyalties are tested when she has to choose between her family or her future. This is a young adult novel of self-discovery and making life choices.
Type of Reading: family reading, anytime reading, independent reading, advanced reader
Recommended Age: read together: 10 and up; read yourself: 12 and up
Interest Level: 10 to 13
Age of Child: Read by students at Woodside Magnet High School for Arts and Communication (Newport News, VA)
Little Kid Reaction: I liked this book right away. I felt bad for Dani; what a way to live! This is a book I would read again. It is a fast read, and is one of those books that should never end.
Big Kid Reaction: This is a well-written, well-paced page turner. The author does an excellent job giving Dani a voice and drawing the reader into her feelings and decisions.
Pros: Teens who want characters with real-life decisions will enjoy this story, and will likely finish it in an afternoon.
Cons: None.
Borrow or Buy: Borrow, at least. This is great reading any time, but because it is set in the summer (and is a fast read), you can really get into it.
Educational Themes: This would be an excellent book club choice for pre-teen girls. There is plenty to talk about from personal choices, to family, to self-respect.
Notes: The Reading Tub, Inc. read an advance reader edition of this book.
Literary Categories: Fiction - young adult, chick lit
Date(s) Reviewed: April 2008, June 2008
Other Reviews: No Critics' Reviews or reader feedback found at barnesandnoble.com or borders.com at the time of this review. We’re interested in your review. Please enter your Name (and blog in Parenthesis), then copy/paste your post link in the URL field. With a link exchange, we both benefit because interested readers can visit you too!
