Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2011
258 pages
MG; Contemporary
4/5 stars
Source: Received a free ARC via Simon & Schuster's GalleyGrab program in exchange for an honest review.
One day thirteen year old Carly's mother is arrested for embezzlement and conspiracy, throwing a wrench into her pretty enjoyable life. She attended a private school, was friends with the most popular girl in her grade, loved her mother and her cool job as a wardrobe mistress on a soap opera, and enjoyed their life with Faux Pa, her stepfather. However the arrest of her mother causes troubles in all of those places.
Her best friend shies away causing Carly no end of bewilderment and eventually resignation about Anna's fickleness. It also affects her friendship with most other kids as they don't know how to handle the awkwardness. Her home life is even more fraught as Faux Pa can't believe the lies perpetrated by her mother and their relationship deteriorates. Carly is of course confused about how the person she knows is also the person who broke the law, resulting in anger and a whole bundle of emotions toward her mother.
One fun theme running through the book is talk about Carly Simon who is Carly's namesake and especially about the lyric "clouds in my coffee." I don't really know Simon's songs but I do enjoy "You're So Vain" so that was cool.
Overall: Quiet, sweet book about a young girl in a very difficult situation.
Cover: I feel like the girl's pose is very awkward but that otherwise it's an okay cover.
This one sounds interesting and intriguing. I think it would be fun. Thanks for the introduction.
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