By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Reviewed by TFK Kid Reporter Emily Jones

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Number of pages: 288

This story is mainly about two girls, Ivy June Mosley and Catherine Combs. These two seventh-grade students from different schools are selected from their classes to leave their homes for two weeks to live and attend classes with each other. During this time, they are asked to record their opinions and thoughts in a journal, which they will share once they return to their homes. At first, the two girls could not be more different from one another. But as they share time together, they realize that they have a lot more in common than they thought. The two Kentucky girls both face the challenge of not knowing what's going on in their family while they are away. And as both girls go through good and bad times, they discover that three things can help them out: faith, hope and each other.

The characters are very believable, mainly because Phyllis Reynolds Naylor explains them so well. Both Ivy June and Catherine Combs are easy to understand because the story is told through their journal entries. This gives you an idea of what the girls think of one another and their surroundings. This makes it fun to read. The characters also have typical seventh-grade friends, teachers and family members, which makes it even more realistic.

I would rate this book a 9 because it's such a fun read from page 1 until the end. The characters and their surroundings are wonderfully described. On every page, it seems as if something exciting happens, which makes it hard to put the book down. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I think it may be one that mainly girls enjoy. But either way, if you've read and enjoyed other books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, this one certainly won't be a disappointment!