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Fixing Delilah

by Sarah Ockler
310p. 978-0-31605-209-2.
COPY ISBN
Gr 8 Up—When Del's grandmother's dies, the teen and her mother, Claire, immediately head to Red Falls, VT. The house is a Victorian relic where her mother and aunt grew up and it holds fond memories for Del, particularly of Rickie, the boy who was once her inseparable companion. An unexplained fight between her mother and her grandmother ended any contact. Claire is a secretive sort who has a demanding job and seems to pay attention only when Del gets in trouble, and Del has obliged. The summer is spent working on clearing the house and repairing it to get it ready to sell, with the aid of Rickie, now known as Patrick, and his father, who run a construction business. Romance ensues, along with uncovering clues about the family mystery regarding an aunt who died at age 19. Although the plot is sometimes melodramatic, romance lovers will enjoy the tender love scenes, while more practical folk may tire of Del's vacillations and whining. The ending seems telegraphed, and nothing is new, except a friend who declares herself a lesbian. The story will satisfy readers who crave romance that focuses on the moments spent kissing and touching rather than on the sex.—Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library, CO
Behaving badly is the only way Delilah can get her high-powered mother's attention. So when her grandmother, from whom Delilah's mother has been estranged, dies, Delilah's not sure what will ensue when she and Mom head to Vermont to settle the estate. Although Delilah's self-pitying can grow tiresome, the evolving family dynamic is engrossing and the romance plot is genuinely touching.
Reviewed by Carol A. Edwards , Nov 01, 2010

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