Shelby Jayne has just had her 11th birthday, as soon as she finished with the presents and cake, she was loaded into the car and then into a boat by her dad. Her dad has a new job and he has to travel around the world for the next 6 months, so since he can't care for Shelby during that time he needs to drop her off at her Mamma's in the bayou. Mamma, or Mirage as Shelby calls her, walked out on Shelby and her dad a year before, and never came back. Shelby has felt abandoned and unloved for that entire year. She's tried to avoid talking to Mirage as much as she could too. Now she won't really have a choice. It's hard to live with someone and completely ignore them. Shelby's hoping against hope that her dad will change his mind and take her with him, but no such luck. Shelby is confused when feelings of love start to come back for Mirage, when she's still so mad at her. But little by little Shelby starts to understand things that she's been unable to understand about Mirage and Daddy's situation. Will she be able to forgive Mirage and heal their small family before it's too late?
This was a cute story. I love the images that Kimberley Griffiths Little paints with her words about the bayou, wildlife in the bayou and Shelby's life. The plot of this book is engaging and well written. I loved the characters in this book, they seem so real, with foibles and problems just like we all have. I really liked that Shelby was such a strong girl, but vulnerable at the same time, it makes her character all the more complex. This book will be loved by all ages, so don't miss it!Labels: Kimberly Griffiths Little, middle grade book
