Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Alexandra

Betsy knows that the surest social suicide is a summer job at the colonial village. Yet there she is. And who should be her co-worker but Liza Henske, the biggest freak at school. True, she has to remove all her piercings and cover her tattoos for work, but regardless, she doesn't want to work with her. Luckily, James, another boy who works at the village, is pretty cute. Then Betsy's mother dies, and things like social status and boys start to matter a lot less. She realizes that Liza isn't such a freak when you get to know her, and that the village is a great escape from her broken family and suddenly disappeared "friends." James starts making her wooden sculptures, and that inspires Betsy to take up her own artistic pursuits. If there ever seemed a time to pursue happiness, instead of letting it come to her, this is it. Altebrando's incredibly realistic writing style allows you to feel Betsy's every emotion -- embarrassment, sadness, drunkenness, hopefulness. Betsy, Liza, James, and the rest of the characters will soon seem like your best friends, and you'll want to finish this in one sittin. Who knows, when you're done, the novel may even inspire you to go out and pursue your own happiness.