Dianne Gray

A whimsical little book that winds slowly, and enjoyably, forward much like a riverboat. Much better than her first book, this is a fun little jaunt that ends up in a humorous and surprising place, but not too surprising. It's like turning a gray page to find a sunset behind it.

This was on the to-weed list, but something about it made me want to read it first. I'm glad I did. Most stories focus on the the disaster- this one deals with the aftermath. It has a little bit of everything- friendship, mild romance, social commentary, and just enough suspense to keep you moving forward.

I picked this up because I was looking for a YA book with a strong female character. The store clerk steered me the right way. It's a darling book, kept me up late to finish it. Megan, the hero of the story, has just the right mixture of confidence and self doubt to be lovable. Plus, I love historical novels, especially ones that take place in the Midwest -- most of the action of this one happens on a riverboat traveling up the Mississippi between Missouri and Minnesota.

Lovely YA novel about several generations of young women growing up on the Nebraska prairie. Gentle, bittersweet, and satisfying.