A student recommended this book to me, so that makes it a must-read on my list. I can see why she loved it--it's told in verse, which is very popular and accessible for many readers. This is the story of Ruby, who is forced to move to California and live with a father she's never met, after her mother dies. Ruby has to leave behind Boston, her Aunt Duffy, best friend Lizzie, and boyfriend Ray. In exchange, she gets Los Angeles and a famous, movie star dad. But for Ruby, the glamour of Hollywood and a mansion for a house cannot replace everything she's left behind and a real home. I recommend this book to readers who like books about losing a parent, change, fitting in, and relationships. This story is fast-paced and interesting, while also including some fresh, beautifully written verses to capture Ruby's complicated feelings about life with her father. Readers will be able to relate and feel like they are with Ruby every step of the way.
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.
