MMGM-- Lily Alone and iPad Giveaway!

Wilson, Jacqueline. Lily Alone
February 3rd 2011 by Doubleday Childrens
Copy provided by publisher

Lily loves her beautiful, vivacious young mother, but when Mum meets a new, younger man and goes off with him "for just a bit", eleven-year-old Lily finds herself in charge of her six-year-old twin brother and sister and her younger sister Pixie. At first, it's rather fun, because they can eat what they want and play in the park, but after a while the situation becomes more complicated. A nosy neighbor lady, as well as Lily's well meaning teacher, investigate too closely, and Lily decides the best thing to do it to live in the park until Mum comes back. The children find a hollow tree to live in, steal food off plates at a posh restaurant, and have a good time until tragedy occurs.
Strengths: This is a great book in the tradition of The Boxcar Children, where children are left to fend for themselves. It is similar to Nobody Knows, but the ending is much happier! Lily's reactions to her responsibility are real and raw. Enjoyed tremendously.
Weaknesses: All of Wilson's books are very British, but this book, along with The Illustrated Mum, is one that translates very nicely. This will get a good work out in February, when all of my seventh grade girls want problem novels.

Watch the really good book trailer and be really intrigued!

For the Jacqueline Wilson Blog Tour, there is an iPad giveaway with the codes for TEN of Ms. Wilson's books! How awesome is that? Entry mechanisms are
a) Answer the question “If you win, which of the new Jacqueline Wilson ebooks will you read first?”
b) Follow @JWilsonebooks on Twitter
c) Tweet “Win a mini iPad +10 ebooks from the UK's bestselling middle grade author Jacqueline Wilson! @jwilsonebooks”

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe and What Are You Reading? day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday, with the Round Up this week at Perogies and Gyoza.