Eleven and Holding

Eleven-year-old narrator Macy's father hasn't returned home since coming back from Iraq. She knows he's working on a "special project that is extremely important," but she fears he won't be back in time for her birthday. Penney's novel brings to light some of the issues families of military personnel face. Readers will enjoy Macy's independent, adventurous spirit in this story about growing up, friendship, and forgiveness.

Eleven-year-old narrator Macy Hollinquest lives in the town of Constant, Colorado, but as her birthday approaches, she knows that despite the town's name, nothing stays the same. The coffee shop her Nana owned until her death has been sold (to a "dirty rat fink"). Her mother is too busy caring for Macy's baby brother to pay her much attention. Soon she'll be starting middle school without her best friend, Twee. And worst of all, her father hasn't returned home since being discharged after his military service in Iraq. Macy knows that he is working on a "special project that is extremely important," but she fears he won't be back in time for her birthday, and there's no way she's turning twelve without him. Bringing her father home becomes Macy's mission on the last week of summer break, but her quest to find a lost dog (which may not in fact be missing), a hard-to-fool best friend, and her aversion to traveling by bus prove to be obstacles. In discovering the truth about her father's absence (Macy finds him in a rehab center, being treated for alcoholism), Macy realizes that those she had thought were her enemies may be on her side after all. Penney's novel brings to light some of the issues families of military personnel face. While the dialogue occasionally feels stiff and includes expressions that seem dated for contemporary tweens ("she's a peach"), readers will enjoy Macy's independent, adventurous spirit in this story about growing up, friendship, and forgiveness. celia c. pérez