Reviewed by Harmony for TeensReadToo.comTwelve-year-old Hershey lives with her mom, baby sister Ella, and her mother's boyfriend, Slade. Ever since Slade moved in with them, things have gone downhill for Hershey. First, it was just little things like the Job List, but it soon progressed into him being verbally abusive, until he became so mad that he threw a glass and almost blinded Hershey. But that's still not enough to convince Hershey's mom to leave him permanently. Hershey finally comes up with a plan to make her mom leave him but it goes all wrong. Slade doesn't just yell and throw something, he hits Hershey's mom and threatens Hershey herself. Hershey's mom makes the decision to run away with Hershey and Ella and go to a battered woman's shelter. Once in the shelter, Hershey finds her worries shifting from practicing for the talent show with her best friend to staying away from Slade and worrying about Augustus Gloop. She also finds herself making unexpected friends with the other women in the shelter and, with their help, she discovers a hidden talent that may just help her win the talent show. Never before have I read a tween book that can use humor and make the reader laugh while dealing with such a tough topic, but Cecilia Galante does just that. The characters, the plot, and the setting are all very realistic to the point where you can feel yourself being pulled into the story. It's written in a way that everyone, whether they're ten, fourteen, or fifty-two, can relate and enjoy. If there's any book that should be required reading for seventh or eighth grade, it's this book. Gr 6-9 Twelve-year-old Hershey Hollenback is having a rough time. Her mother has left her abusive boyfriend and now Hershey, her Mother, and baby sister Ella, are living in a battered women’s shelter. On the way to the shelter Hershey begs her best friend Phoebe to take care of her cat, Augustus Gloop, because the shelter doesn’t allow pets. Hershey is frightened and stressed out about the new living situation, not the least of which is her feelings of guilt for the current situation. On the first night she meets strange Lupe, a Columbian woman living in the basement closet who plays the piano. Hershey is fascinated by the piano and begs Lupe to teach her to play. Meanwhile, Hershey battles with a school bully on the bus and in the lunchroom and her friendship with Phoebe starts to deteriorate when they cancel their plans to perform together in the town talent show. But Hershey has her own plan now. She’s going to enter the talent show alone and play the piano. Hershey is counting on winning the $1000 first prize so she can give the money to her mom so they can start a new life. Through her friendships with Phoebe and Lupe, Hershey learns the power of love and believing in one’s self. Hershey finds the courage to stand up and make people notice her. In a true voice, Hershey tells a story of personal struggle and ultimate triumph. Young readers will enjoy Hershey’s wit and humor, as well as identify with her conflicting feelings about family and friends. Bethany A. Lafferty – Las Vegas Clark County Library District
