Mock Newbery 2010

I liked this book very much, even though it was not the best book in the world. This was the author's first children's book, so I did not expect it to be THE BEST. The girl in this book is very normal. She has no special virtues or powers. Nobody did, in fact. It was very adventurous and daring, with a bunch of sweetness mixed in. ( )

Carolina Harmony lost her parents and baby brother in a terrible accident when she was only nine. She went to live with her Aunt Shen. Aunt Shen had raised her father but was not his biological mother. His mother had been her best friend. Carolina lives in the mountains and loves its simple ways. When Aunt Shen has a stroke some well meaning women from the church step in and she is shipped of to a foster home. She promptly runs away and then is taken to a second foster home. It seems to be worse than the first. She runs away from that one as well and end up at Harmony Farms. She is loved by the whole family. When she tries to help a kid from her former foster home disaster strikes and Carolina finds out what jealousy can do. Once again she runs away only to learn that you can’t keep running. Sometimes the only way you find peace is by telling the truth. This had a great ending. It reminded me a lot of the book “Pictures of Hollis woods”. I have read a lot of books recently with a setting of mountains in them and it makes me hurt. I have not been back to Tennessee since shortly before my Father-in-law passed away and I miss it. I hope to go back this summer. Like Carolina Harmony, that is where I find peace. ( )