Rave Reviews Log: Realistic Fiction

July 14, 2008

Forever Rose


By Hilary McKay
Rating: 4 1/4 stars

Those who have been fans of the Casson family stories (Saffy's Angel, Indigo's Star, Permanent Rose, Caddy Ever After) will be thrilled with this sequel. Rose is now in grade 6 and having trouble in school. Not only is her teacher less than engaged in teaching at all, Rose struggles in math, reading and every other subject. Complicate that with her mother Eve having bronchitis, Caddy still being missing in action, Indigo's friend David having nowhere to live, her father Bill still living in London and Saffy and Indigo being constantly busy, and Rose feels quite alone. And they don't even have a Christmas tree yet! All this makes Rose quite grumpy and so she does things like write how many shopping days are left until Christmas in marker on the kitchen clock. Then when David moves his drumset into the house, Eve spends all her time in the shed painting pre-ordered pictures, and Caddy phones but won't give any details about her life or where she is, Rose is almost at the end of her rope. Then her best friends Molly and Kiran hatch a daring plan that includes ditching the class trip--and they want Rose along for the adventure. Who thought one act of daring would change everyone's lives? Another fully enjoyable story about the unmatchable Cassons. Whether this is your first book in the series or not, you won't find many other series that are quite as likeable, quirky and funny as these. Full marks!