plattin's review
1.0
This is another mediocre YA novel dealing with the death of a parent. Dulcie's father died in a school janitorial accident and her mother's way to deal with this tragedy is to move across the country. Dulcie steals her late father's truck and goes back home, only to discover that there are worse fates than losing a parent. Dulcie's voice is enjoyable, but plot is trite and the relationship between the janitors and students is unrealistic. If you want to recommend a book on the death of a parent, recommend one by Abelove and Dessen, not this one.
ms_aprilvincent's review
2.0
Dulcie's dad died, and her mom moves her from Connecticut to California. But after, like, an hour in CA, Dulcie steals the truck and goes back to CT, where she lives with her grandfather, a school janitor, who's sort-of mentoring Roxanne, whose mom abuses her.
This is a short book--you could read it in an hour. I didn't like Dulcie, although I was clearly supposed to empathize with her.
Probably it's because my own mother would never have let me get away with stealing her truck and her credit card and taking a cross-country road trip alone. At age 16.
No, MY mother would have canceled the card and issued an APB. Then after I'd returned, my life would have been MISERABLE. Death row inmates would have more freedom that I would.
But Dulcie's mom seems more passive, like, "Gosh, call me when you get there," or, "Gee, I sure miss you when you're on the other side of the continent." I don't understand that parenting model.
In the end, Dulcie stays in CT with her grandfather and Roxanne moves to CA with Dulcie's mom. Um ... ?!?!?!?
There is some catharsis in the climactic showdown where everybody rescues Roxanne from her looney-tunes mother, but it seemed very Special-Episode-of-Growing-Pains to me.
Though it may sound like I hate this book, I actually found the writing to be good. And I liked Dulcie's emotional journey as she worked through the aftermath of her father's death. There were no trite epiphanies or magical ghostly farewells; she just missed her daddy. That rang true to me.
I think girls ages 11-15 would like this book. Yeah, the ones who love Lurlene McDaniel, they would eat this right up.
This is a short book--you could read it in an hour. I didn't like Dulcie, although I was clearly supposed to empathize with her.
Probably it's because my own mother would never have let me get away with stealing her truck and her credit card and taking a cross-country road trip alone. At age 16.
No, MY mother would have canceled the card and issued an APB. Then after I'd returned, my life would have been MISERABLE. Death row inmates would have more freedom that I would.
But Dulcie's mom seems more passive, like, "Gosh, call me when you get there," or, "Gee, I sure miss you when you're on the other side of the continent." I don't understand that parenting model.
In the end, Dulcie stays in CT with her grandfather and Roxanne moves to CA with Dulcie's mom. Um ... ?!?!?!?
There is some catharsis in the climactic showdown where everybody rescues Roxanne from her looney-tunes mother, but it seemed very Special-Episode-of-Growing-Pains to me.
Though it may sound like I hate this book, I actually found the writing to be good. And I liked Dulcie's emotional journey as she worked through the aftermath of her father's death. There were no trite epiphanies or magical ghostly farewells; she just missed her daddy. That rang true to me.
I think girls ages 11-15 would like this book. Yeah, the ones who love Lurlene McDaniel, they would eat this right up.
bethreadsandnaps's review
2.0
I didn't like this book that much. By the way the interesting first chapter went, I was expecting an even more interesting road trip story. After the road trip was skipped, then I got a mundane story with 2 other characters that went very predictably. But what was weird is that flashbacks to the skipped road trip happened at intermittent times. The book seemed very predictable but disjointed at the same time. I expected more going into it.
boureemusique's review
4.0
This is a 3.5 but I think it's closer to a 4 than a 3. It's the author's first book, and he writes from personal experience about life as a janitor. I liked the humanity in this book, the huge tangents about traveling and random facts and word origins. The one thing that bothered me was that each chapter ended very neatly, with some quick and snappy dialogue that I found a bit unrealistic.
hannahslibrary92's review
3.0
This was a very quick light read, it was pretty good but overall I felt like it was just okay. I wasn't overly impressed but I did like it, and I'm glad that I read it.
For a more detailed review, please check out my blog at http://www.thebooktower.webs.com
For a more detailed review, please check out my blog at http://www.thebooktower.webs.com
tswanson103's review
4.0
Although this novel is written about a 16-year-old, the surface level way it brings up big issues makes it perfect for Middle Grade. This doesn't sound like a positive thing, but it is. I often have concerns about putting books in front of my 6th grade students because they delve too deeply into heavy issues that are not appropriate for a child of even a year older. The problems faced by the characters in the novel are dealt with great care and handled appropriately, allowing the students to consider big problems and to learn about positive ways to deal with difficult topics without being submerged in the nitty-gritty of issues that are not developmentally appropriate.
Aside from the big issues, the novel is laced with witty and creative humor and quirky, real characters that kept me reading. In fact, I accidentally read the whole book in one night.
Great read!
Aside from the big issues, the novel is laced with witty and creative humor and quirky, real characters that kept me reading. In fact, I accidentally read the whole book in one night.
Great read!
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