A review by kellyhager
Pearl by Jo Knowles
5.0
Pearl (who's called Bean by everyone) lives with her mom and grandfather. She has exactly two friends: Henry and his mom, Sally. After her grandfather dies, things get weird. Her mom's best friend Claire moves in and her mom is ridiculously happy all the time. It's like Bean's the only one who misses him. And it turns out that her mom's been keeping a lot of secrets from her and this is the summer they all are revealed.
I read this book in one giant gulp and completely loved it. How could I not, really? Sweet, smart heroine? Yes. Strange family with secrets? Yes. Characters that are great but also flawed (and thus realistic)? Yes. But the thing I loved the most? (very slight spoiler) When Bean finds out her mom's secret, she's only mad that it was kept from her.
I loved this book, maybe even more than Jumping Off Swings. I hope I don't have to wait long for her fourth book. (And meanwhile, I guess I should track down book 1.)
SO recommended.
I read this book in one giant gulp and completely loved it. How could I not, really? Sweet, smart heroine? Yes. Strange family with secrets? Yes. Characters that are great but also flawed (and thus realistic)? Yes. But the thing I loved the most? (very slight spoiler) When Bean finds out her mom's secret, she's only mad that it was kept from her.
I loved this book, maybe even more than Jumping Off Swings. I hope I don't have to wait long for her fourth book. (And meanwhile, I guess I should track down book 1.)
SO recommended.