Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker: For Better or for Worse

Gr 4–8—Thirteen-year-old Lucy lives in a Manhattan apartment with her mother, her mother's boyfriend ,and his daughter Laurel. Lucy and Laurel are close and call each other "fristers," a combination of friends and sisters, even though Laurel stars in a popular TV show and Lucy is, in her own words, a normal kid. Lucy's father is in Northampton, MA, with his girlfriend and their son Ziggy with whom Lucy frequently skypes. Lucy continues to email talk show host Dr. Maude and is also writing an advice column for her school paper. For better or for worse, the girls' parents have decided to marry. A Reality TV show decides that the forthcoming nuptials would make great ratings, so a camera crew follows the family. Shana Dowdswell's successful reading gives credibility to each character. There are tender moments and learning ones as Lucy learns to share her mother with Laurel and must find her place in a family with a super star. Palmer's novel (Putnam, 2012) offers a humorous portrayal of a blended family. Featuring well-executed life lessons, this story will find a place among middle grade readers, especially girls.—Mary Lee Bulat, Harwinton Public Library, CT