Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

When that old blue pickup rolls into the driveway next door, everything changes for twelve-year-old Franny Parker. There is something mysterious about her new neighbors the Dunns, something that fourteen-year-old Lucas and his mother, Lindy, seem intent to hide. Franny develops a quiet friendship with the tall, bookish Lucas, who calls her "Francesca" and who is intrigued by the animal hospital she is running out of the barn. The idyll is destroyed when Lucas' father shows up; soon the nights are filled with violent arguments and the mornings with empty whiskey bottles, and when Lucas runs away, no one is less surprised or more saddened than Franny. This is an exemplary coming-of-age novel, with the storytelling rich in descriptive, flowing prose. Yet McKinnon capably shows rather than tells when it comes to exploring her characters, allowing situations and dialogue to reveal personality. In addition to the standout drafting of the characters, the relationships among them are thoughtfully executed, full of emotion and subtlety. Set against the backdrop of an Oklahoma small town, this is a story about growing up and growing together that will appeal to a wide audience.