Author: Peg Kehret
Genre: YA fiction
Pages: 197
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Challenges:
FTC Disclosure: I received this book as a gift
Summary (from the inside flap of the book): During ten years of living in foster homes, Sunny has always yearned to be reunited with her long-lost twin sister. So when she finally gets a chance to leave, Sunny is eager to make the cross-country trip to find her other half. But her quest quickly becomes complicated when she rescues an abandoned dog, runs into bullies, and has to escape a life-threatening tornado!
Review: This is a great middle school age book, and perhaps even upper elementary. I am going to try to get my daughter read it once she is finished with her current book.
Sunny, the main character is in her early teens, which works because she is old enough to runaway and be reasonably competent, but not so old that she is inaccessible to younger readers. She is smart and savvy, but not so much that the reader questions the reality of her thoughts and actions. For example, finding a stray dog and taking it with you while you run away is something someone younger would do since it isn't very practical.
While parts of the story seem a bit implausible (surviving a tornado in the open, getting rescued quickly, etc), I didn't mind that in this book. The whole thing read as if it's the 1970s, very reminiscent of my childhood, even though it was published in 2009. I can't even say specifically what about it reminded me of my childhood, but that feeling was definitely there. Perhaps it's the friendliness and helpfulness of the secondary characters or the safety with which Sunny traveled along half way across the country.
Finding one's twin... I cannot even imagine. When Sunny does find her sister the results are not what she, or I, expected. I will not elaborate in case you read the book. This story is a quick one with no wasted dialog or frilly descriptions of scenery. I read it in just a few hours, but I enjoyed every minute of it.
Sunny, the main character is in her early teens, which works because she is old enough to runaway and be reasonably competent, but not so old that she is inaccessible to younger readers. She is smart and savvy, but not so much that the reader questions the reality of her thoughts and actions. For example, finding a stray dog and taking it with you while you run away is something someone younger would do since it isn't very practical.
While parts of the story seem a bit implausible (surviving a tornado in the open, getting rescued quickly, etc), I didn't mind that in this book. The whole thing read as if it's the 1970s, very reminiscent of my childhood, even though it was published in 2009. I can't even say specifically what about it reminded me of my childhood, but that feeling was definitely there. Perhaps it's the friendliness and helpfulness of the secondary characters or the safety with which Sunny traveled along half way across the country.
Finding one's twin... I cannot even imagine. When Sunny does find her sister the results are not what she, or I, expected. I will not elaborate in case you read the book. This story is a quick one with no wasted dialog or frilly descriptions of scenery. I read it in just a few hours, but I enjoyed every minute of it.
Geography Connection
Click to see my updated Google Map. This is a real travel book. It starts in Nebraska, but the character is traveling west to Washington state. But, I am choosing Wyoming for my geography connection because that is where her journey becomes unencumbered and she is able to see achieving her goal.
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