This book opens with a bang. Foster McKee and her mother are fleeing Memphis with a crazed Elvis impersonator hot on their tail. Readers soon find out the crazy Elvis is actually Foster's mother's ex-boyfriend Huck, who is not happy to see his former love and back-up singer driving out of his life. Foster and her mom relocate to the small town of Culpepper, which has recently become home to a prison and its prisoners. Foster grapples with her own problems--her father died serving overseas in the military, and she struggles with reading and school. Like many of Bauer's books, younger readers (6th grade and below) will enjoy its optimistic portrayal of serious problems such as domestic violence. Some of this book would be too sugary for students dealing with major life problems. I recommend it to readers who enjoy cooking/baking, and stories about fitting in, perseverance, and building relationships.
This book takes the reader on a train wreck of emotions, but you simply cannot stop reading. The main character, Jace, has not seen his older brother Christian since he left their abusive home years ago. But after Jace is kicked out by his dad, he drives from Chicago to Albuquerque and shows up on Christian's doorstep--beaten up and carrying a horrible secret. From the moment Jace arrives in Albuquerque to the very end, this plot hums along and sweeps the reader with it. The characters are well-developed, the plot is masterfully constructed, and despite its difficult topic, this is a beautiful book.
I recommend this book to mature readers who can handle reading about family violence and abuse, but who also like reading about relationships and second chances. It was an emotional read, but I definitely give it 5 out of 5 stars!
