A Rambler Steals Home

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 11, 2017

Review

Derby lives a life on the road most of the year, traveling in her father's RV. But in the summer, she and her father and brother take a hiatus from the rambling life to settle in Ridge Creek, Virginia. Here, Derby's father sets up Garland's Grill in the parking lot of the Rockskippers, the minor league ballpark in town. They cook up burgers and fries and scoop ice cream for the park visitors and enjoy town life for a few months. Derby loves most of the townspeople and the descriptions of many will resonate with any readers who have spent time in small-town America. Derby is a great character, precocious and wise beyond her years and most of her thinking is insightful in a colorful, colloquial way, "but I never would have thought Marcus's stubbornness would be bigger than his comfort. It made me awful sad, though -- the thought of only that tarp protecting Marcus, as if he were just plain old dirt and grass." This reviewer couldn't help thinking that this book would do well with southern audiences but might fall flat with Maine readers. Or the story would be best in the hands of a teacher who wants a read-aloud that sets up place and character; listeners might get more out of listening to it and discussing the situations that Derby experiences. It is a nostalgic book and Derby is almost too good at assessing her own flaws and sussing out the feelings of the adults around her. Her wisdom is pitch-perfect, but might not ring true to actual 12 year olds.

Overall Book Score: good