Hey, Hilary McKay fans, Permanent Rose has finally arrived! For those of you who haven't discovered the whacky, wonderful, color-coded Casson family, here's your chance (although you may prefer to start with the earliest books to get to know the characters). In this volume, Caddy is engaged (not sure if she likes it); Indigo starts a friendship with a bully; Saffy looks for her biological father; and Rose starts shoplifting (why are you doing this, Rose??).

This book I have read previously but listened to with my daughter on audio book. This is the third book in the series by Hillary McKay. I love the wacky Casson afmily with the flaky mom and the independent self reliant kids. I think this book has value in many ways. It is set in London and shows how the family survives. I like the underlying discussion of art that are in all the books, also what is love and what makes a family. These books are entertaining and appeal to many ages and both genders. The structure of the books with one named for each child. It delightful as we get to know about the family and the stronger voice of each child. My daughter who is 8 loved this book because of it's character Rose who is also 8. She also runs the family in her own way and this is very apparent in this book. ( )

I adore the "darling Casson family," and I'm not sure, but I think surly lovely artist Rose is my favorite. What I like so much about this family is that they are who they are, and no one in the family is ever trying to turn someone else into something they aren't. They are all so downright Casson-ish. I'd love to live next door to these folks. Well, maybe not the guinea pigs, but otherwise, they'd be wonderful neighbors. ( )

Rose takes center stage in this third installment of the Casson Family books.

Rose can't help missing Tom and has taken to shop lifting. Caddy's not sure how she likes being engaged to Darling Michael. And Saffy's trying to figure out who her father is.

Rose completely stole the spotlight in Indigo's Star, so it's a good thing McKay finally gave her her own book--the strongest of the series.

see all my reviews at www.tushuguan.blogspot.com ( )

The setting in this story is in England, about this time of year. The main characters are Permanent Rose, Caddy, Michael, Indigo, Saffy, Eve, Bill, Samantha, Sarah, David, and Tom. I liked the strong attitude in Permanent Rose, somtimes i can relate to her. The Whole Casson Family (which is Eve, Bill, Caddy, Saffy, Indigo, and Permanent Rose) are busy for the summer.Eve is an artist, she is painting the hospital walls. Bill is in London, England with his new girlfriend Samantha. Saffy is a daughter of Lizzy,Eves twin who died when Saffy was born. Now Saffy and her best friend Sarah are looking for Saffy's biological father. Caddy is losing and losing the ring that Michael gave her. Rose takes the ring so Caddy wouldnt give it back to Michael, since Caddy is not so sure she wants to marry him. Permanent Rose shoplifts items in the store which almost brings disaster. David, indigos friend tries to stop Rose from shoplifting items in the store. He was the only one who knew. Caddy is all fed up, so she decides she wants to go to London, to stay for a while with Samantha. When shes on the train, David brings Rose and tells her to give the ring back to Caddy, before the train departs. When Rose is already inside looking for Caddy, the train departs.
She looks for Caddy and finds her asleep. When the arrive London, Caddy sees Rose and asks her a bunch of questions. When they get to Bill and Samanthas apartment, Rose gives Caddy the ring and Caddy departs once back to Michael and leaves Rose with Samantha and Bill. There they discuss alot of stuff and find that Bill is Saffys biological father as well. Samantha tells Bill why he didnt tell her he had a very young daughter. Samantha brakes up with Bill. In the morning instead of going Bill and Samantha to New York, Bill and Rose go to New York with alot of discusion. They tell the family back at home and David and Sarah decide to find Toms new phone number to call him, so Rose wont be upset when she reaches London. They find it at school and call Tom in New York so he would be in the airport for Rose. She finds him there under the sign that said New York. ( )