Hope Springs

Gr 4 Up--Growing up in the care of her grandmother who is on a lifelong "search for substance" means 11-year-old Jubilee Johnson has a lot of relocation rules to live by, and none of them involve commitments, promises, or friends. If there is one constant in Jubilee's life, it's Arletta Paisley, whose TV show Queen of Neat offers "glamorganizing" tips for bringing order to life's messes. Jubilee's idol grew up in the little town of Hope Springs, TX, so when Nan announces it's time to move again, Jubilee does her best to make sure Hope Springs is their next stop. The place is full of quirky, lovable characters who immediately accept Jubilee and Nan. Before long, the girl starts to wonder if Hope Springs really could be their forever home. Berry's first-person narration gives Jubilee a distinctive voice with a hint of a Southern accent, and her characters are complex human beings who make mistakes, grow, and change. Instructions for completing various crafts that Jubilee undertakes are sprinkled throughout, inviting young readers to get creative. All characters are presumed white. VERDICT A promising debut reminiscent of Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie and Deborah Wiles's "Aurora County" trilogy.--Dana West, Nathan Hale H.S., Seattle

Sixth grader Jubilee and her paternal grandmother, Nan, move so frequently from town to town that they have Relocation Rules. Jubilee's father died in a motorcycle accident when she was 4 and her mother took off to become a country singer. A great fan of the TV show Queen of Neat, hosted by Arletta Paisley, Jubilee loves crafting. After she and Nan arrive in Hope Springs, Texas, Jubilee befriends Abby, whose mother is the mayor. A job in a fabric store puts her organizational skills to great use, and the shop owner teaches her how to quilt. Jubilee is thrilled to learn that Arletta grew up in Hope Springs and will be coming to visit as the spokesperson for a new big-box store, but this leads to concerns about the survival of local businesses--and a glimpse for Jubilee of the person behind the TV personality. Another thread in the story is the strained relationship between Jubilee and her absent mother. Her friendship with Abby and her growing feelings for the townspeople lead Jubilee to question whether she can arrange her life as neatly as she can objects. With a town festival and occasional directions for craft projects thrown into the mix, debut author Berry allows Jubilee to grow and mature to the point where she can implement Staying Put Procedures. Characters follow a White default. Quilting offers a perfect metaphor in this thoughtful tale of a tween piecing together a new life. (Fiction. 10-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.