The Grove

Gr 9 Up–Fifteen-year-old Pip and her 17-year-old sister, Sissy, live a humble life on an orange grove in 1960s Florida. Their parents, often drunk and either distant or abusive, depend on them to keep the grove running and earn money through a fresh-squeezed orange juice stand. The sisters have always been close, but a rift forms when a traveling carnival visits town and introduces them to an unsavory character who forever alters their lives. As the gap between the sisters widens into a chasm, Pip realizes she may not have known Sissy as well as she thought, causing her world to spin out of control. With no one else to turn to, she confides in Silas, who works at the family’s orchard and provides her with the support and friendship she so desperately needs. Fixx narrates smoothly, providing engaging pacing and adding depth and listenability to the story by giving each character a distinct voice.