Reviewed by Beverly J. Rowe, MyShelf.Com
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Sharon Creech, author of Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons and Newbery Honor book The Wanderer, has done it again with this book about 13 year old twins, Dallas, and his sister Florida. The two were abandoned at an orphanage as babies and were never able to find permanent homes, but were in a series of dreadful foster homes. Sairy and Tiller, an older couple, take them to their home in Ruby Holler, and want them to help achieve their goals; one more big adventure while they are still able to paddle a river and climb a mountain.

The kids are skeptical and wait for bad things to start happening, as it always has in foster homes, but in spite of their mistrust, the magic of Ruby Holler and the caring of the eccentric older couple begins to take over. Their "getting-used-to-kids-again stew," "getting-over-being-an-orphan cookies" and other culinary delights help to win the kids over. Just when you think things are probably going to turn out fine, the unthinkable happens, and it's courageous Florida to the rescue.

Sharon Creech is a master at making the kids' intolerable past seem funny and their
current escapades exciting. She has a unique writing style that's great fun to read and memorable characters that kids can really relate to. I would like to see more stories about Dallas and Florida; it would be a series that kids could really get into.