FICTION

Finding Fortune

by Delia RAY
288p. Farrar. Nov. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780374300654. LC 2014042436.
COPY ISBN
Gr 4–6— Like the small town of Fortune, Iowa, once the "Pearl Button Capital of the World," Ren feels that her little family is slowly breaking apart. With her father fighting in Afghanistan, Ren's mother is moving on with her life and is dating a "creep" named Rick Littleton. Ren has had enough and decides to run away. The 12-year-old makes her way to the neighboring town, where she discovers an old school that's been turned into a boardinghouse-and a mystery. The owner, Ms. Baxter is convinced that a treasure-a bag of pearls-is hidden somewhere in the house. With her new friend Hugh, Ren sets out to help Ms. Baxter find the long lost treasure. Ren is a good kid with a kind heart. Ray's characters are realistic and relatable.
VERDICT A heartwarming story about forgiveness, acceptance, and friendship.—H. Islam, Brooklyn Public Library
Reviewed by a stash of pearls collected during Fortune's button-making heyday (before the supply of mussel- and clam shells dried up and the button factories closed). It was intended to be Hildy's nest egg, hidden by her brother before he died in battle in the Korean War. The mystery is a satisfying one, filled with dead ends, scary moments, and surprising plot twists. However, it's the relationships between the characters that make this story memorable. Hildy holds her dwindling town together, even when things seem to be falling apart; on the brink of young adulthood, Ren learns to face her own fortune with reflection and grace. And one thing is for sure: buttons will never look quite so insignificant again. The author's historical note rounds out this story in a satisfying way. Robin Smith
, Jul 01, 2015

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