Review by Booklist Review
In Keplinger's poignant middle-grade debut, 11-year-old Nola's carefree world is shattered when her best friend's father takes off without explanation. Nola and the three Swift brothers, who live in the other half of their duplex, have always been friends, but Nola is closest with Canaan. She and Canaan do everything together, from sneaking turns on a neighbor's trampoline to sharing secrets. Nola is unprepared for how sweet Canaan changes when his father leaves. Instead of confiding in her, he is sullen and angry, hanging out with the bullies who call her Nasty Nola and playing mean pranks on their neighbors. Nola is crushed, especially when her mother announces she is getting married and moving them to another neighborhood. Nola is both happy and sad, but Canaan doesn't even seem to care. Keplinger gives appropriate gravity to Nola's feelings of hurt and helplessness, while tempering her distress with reassuring outlets in her parents and two new friends. A believably bittersweet ending delivers an emotional understanding of the necessary changes we all undergo while growing up.--Hutley, Krista Copyright 2014 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"All three of the Swift boys were my best friends, but Canaan was my best-best friend," is how 12-year-old Nola Sutton describes the boys whose family lives in the other half of her duplex. Between chapters, Nola shares memories of her close friendships with Canaan, which verges on romance, as well as with brothers Brian and Kevin. After Mr. Swift walks out on the family, oldest brother Brian is overwhelmed by trying to keep things running smoothly, motormouth third-grader Kevin stops speaking entirely, and Canaan grows angry, driving a wedge between him and Nola. Meanwhile, Nola's family is also undergoing change, and she reluctantly begins to make new friends and decides to search for Mr. Swift herself. YA author Keplinger's (A Midsummer's Nightmare) novel, her first for middle-graders, is driven by themes of betrayal, loss, friendship, and the need for self-reliance when friends and family fall short. The small-town Kentucky setting, unfolding events, and emotional interactions between characters young and old all play their parts in establishing the story's solid sense of realism. Ages 8-12. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary & Media. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-7-Nola Sutton was looking forward to spending the summer after sixth grade doing odd jobs and having fun with her best friend, Canaan Swift. But when Canaan's dad abruptly leaves his family, Canaan becomes first distant, and then downright hostile, forcing a hurt Nola to make other plans. She strengthens a casual friendship, makes a new friend, and gets to know her cranky grandmother a little better-and begins to accept that some things must change, for better or for worse. Copious flashbacks, demonstrating what a great friend Canaan has always been, slow what little forward momentum the plot has and make the boy's total personality change-from super friend to dog-tormenting bully-seem even more perplexing. Nola's attempt to track down Mr. Swift's whereabouts strains credulity and adds nothing to the plot; also unconvincing is much of the dialogue, though it does a good job of getting across a flavor of the Kentucky setting. Barbara O'Connor's books are a better bet for stories of friendship with a Southern accent.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Nola shares everything with neighbors Brian, Canaan, and Keith Swift. But when their father leaves suddenly, the boys start excluding her. Without best friend Canaan, Nola tries to determine what makes a true friend, and she's surprised by what she learns. Nola's misguided search for Mr. Swift rings as unbelievable, but Keplinger offers powerful lessons about hope, friendship, and inner strength. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
