Backwater

ISBN 10: 0613298829 ISBN 13: 9780613298827

Publisher: Bt Bound

Synopsis

Stuck in a family overflowing with lawyers, Ivy Breedlove longs to be understood, to break free of unfair expectations, and to find the truth about the mysterious hermit aunt who broke the family mold-the relative no one will talk about. With an outrageous mountain guide leading the way, Ivy sets out on the journey of a lifetime to find the missing link in the Breedlove family. But is she too late?

"This warm, funny, patchwork quilt of a sturdy heroine, vivid characters, a touch of romance, and a final survival adventure...."-Booklist

"Rich with engaging characters... and dramatic tension in a well-paced plot, this is another great read from Bauer."--School Library Journal

About this title

Review:

There are two things you can count on in a book by Joan Bauer. One, it will make you laugh. And two, the girl who is telling the story will be really good at something, but not something you'd expect. In Squashed, Ellie wins the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In. In Rules of the Road, which won the Golden Kite Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Fiction, Jenna Boller is a whiz at selling shoes. In Backwater, Ivy Breedlove resists being good at the family tradition. For many generations the Breedloves have been successful lawyers. Among her loud and argumentative relatives, however, Ivy feels like "a goldfish swimming in a tank stocked with snapping turtles--it's hard to keep a lasting presence." Instead, Ivy is in love with history, especially the family history she is compiling. But a large piece is missing. Many years ago, her father's sister Josephine went away to be a hermit in the mountains, and ever since, the rest of the family has referred to her scornfully as "stuck in the backwater." Ivy, convinced that this "different" aunt holds the secret to her own differentness, sets out in a snowstorm to find Jo, with the help of backslapping, slogan-spouting wilderness guide Mountain Mama. Along the way she meets with a lot more adventure and understanding than she ever anticipated--not to mention snagging an excellent boyfriend. (Ages 12 to 16) --Patty Campbell

About the Author:

Joan Bauer is also the author of Rules of the Road and Hope Was Here.

About this edition

• Publisher: Bt Bound
• ISBN 10: 0613298829
• ISBN 13: 9780613298827
• Binding: Library Binding