This was one of my favorite books as a kid. Laura Stevenson's writing is clear and fresh, and the story is easy to follow, though it is not a simple one. When Rebecca's father dies, she must move from sunny, idyllic California to bitter Vermont to live with Rachel, the mother she doesn't know. How Becca adjusts to her new life and friends, and how she and Rachel learn to live together and, ultimately, love each other, is an interesting, heart-warming story that should keep a parent reading long after their child has turned the last page with a satisfied sigh.