A review by krismarley
The Center of Everything by Linda Urban

3.0

As I wondered earlier in the summer after reading Hound Dog True, I started with the wrong Linda Urban title. I like Center of Everything enough enough to give Crooked Kind of Perfect a try but not enough to give 4 stars. I've become increasingly critical of kid books over the last decade... probably a good thing. Can't put my finger why her books just don't do it for me. I like how they're a tad philosophical, because yes, I do think kids can be philosophical. Maybe it's the painted perfect picture of small town life that annoys me? I'm not sure. I could have been fooled into thinking the setting was mid-20th century if it wasn't for characters texting and consulting google + wikipedia. Can you imagine if a student pulled out a set a matches in a lunchroom to light a birthday candle? They'd be in the Front Office faster than you can say tater tot.