Roadside Assistance

March 28, 2011
In her first novel for teens, adult author Clipston (the Kaufmann Amish Bakery series) presents the conventional spiritual journey of 17-year-old Emily, whose life has been uprooted since her mother's death from cancer: Emily's father's auto shop went belly up, they lost their house to foreclosure, and had to sell the beloved '69 Camaro she had fixed up. And moving in with her wealthy aunt, uncle, and beautiful cousin Whitney (to whom she has always been compared) makes Emily feel like a charity case. Emily rebuffs repeated invitations from Whitney and her friends, the pastoral staff at their new church, and her father, preferring to stay in her room writing journal entries to her mother and pondering her uncertain relationship with God. A developing friendship with Zander, a cute neighbor who shares her passion for cars, provides some solace, but she finds his strong Christian faith unnerving. Emily's struggles with grief, difference, dependency, and the need for someone to depend on provide opportunities for growth, friendship, and budding romance. The story follows a predictable course, but the characters are well developed and it remains affecting. Ages 13â16.

April 1, 2011

In this Christian chick-lit effort, car repair paves the way to emotional healing. High-school junior Emily and her father have just moved in with her wealthy aunt and uncle and their two children. Several months previously, Emily's mother died of cancer, and hospital bills have pushed them to the brink: Emily's father has lost his car-repair business and their home. Emily, given to dramatic sighs, unexpected tears and prickly angst, has not been able to talk to God since her mother died, her emotional distress amplified by being recently dumped by her boyfriend. While she enthusiastically rejects nearly every kind overture offered to her, next-door-hunk Zander easily breaks through her barriers, since the two of them share an intense interest in auto repair. This activity provides Emily with solace but horrifies her critical, fashion-focused aunt. While cheerleader cousin Whitney is initially portrayed as shallow, she tries hard to relieve Emily's suffering, as do the minister and youth-group leader at their church. Emily's egocentric, first-person narration sharply limits the focus, leaving other characters little room to develop. A lack of suspense, a predictable outcome, a nondescript setting and a surfeit of soul-searching on Emily's part, as she writes long letters to her mother in her journal, all contribute to a largely vanilla-flavored tale of loss and, not surprisingly, redemption. (Christian chick-lit. 10 & up)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

April 15, 2011

Tomboy Emily Curtis lost her ability to pray when her mother died. Overwhelmed by hospital bills that they can't pay, Emily and her dad are forced to move in with Emily's aunt and her perfect cousin, Whitney. Things seem to be going from bad to worse until she meets cute next-door neighbor Zander and his 1970s Dodge Challenger. Emily has never felt as at home as she does working under the hood of a car. Can Zander help her find her faith again? VERDICT Clipston, the best-selling author of the "Kauffman Amish Bakery" series, makes her young adult fiction debut with glowing results. Emily's angst over losing her mother and being compared to her more feminine cousin is palpable. Engaging characters and a believable story line make this a sure bet for teens who enjoy Melody Carlson. It will also appeal to adult readers of YA fiction.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2011

Gr 7 Up-Seventeen-year-old Emily Curtis has lost her faith in God. After her mother died from cancer, her father, bankrupt from the medical bills, had to sell the family automotive business, and the two move in with her wealthy aunt, whose generosity unnerves her. A self-proclaimed motorhead, Emily is happier repairing cars than hosting pool parties, and she feels inadequate compared to her beautiful and popular cousin. Fearful that others are judging her, she distrusts people's good intentions. When a romance blossoms with next-door neighbor Zander, her lack of confidence and spiritual questioning threaten to sabotage her newfound happiness. Then an accident forces her to reevaluate her relationship with God and count her blessings. Interspersed throughout the thoughtful first-person narrative are the emotional letters Emily has written to her dead mother, describing her isolation, grief, and wavering faith. Adult author Clipston deftly tackles her first YA novel with insight and understanding about grief and God. A worthy addition to Christian fiction collections and a meaningful recommendation for teens dealing with similar issues.-Kimberly Garnick Giarratano, Northampton Community College, Hawley, PA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2011
Grades 7-11 High-school-junior Emily has had a rough year. Her mothers death from cancer also meant her father lost his auto-repair business, their home, and the vintage Chevy she had lovingly rebuilt. Now Emily and her father have moved south to her aunts home, a McMansion with a pool, multiple Mercedes, and a lifestyle completely foreign to Emilyexcept for church. Formerly a devout Christian, Emily has lost touch with her faith since her mothers death. Emilys first-person narrative is studded with diary entries and flows smoothly in Clipstons relaxed, teen-friendly prose. Emily (a self-professed motorhead, who loves all things automotive) is an atypical character who is self-aware and content with who she isespecially when the handsome teen next door turns out to be a car devotee as well. The formulaic plot, however, is overly predictable, as Emily swiftly wins the gorgeous guy, makes peace with her faith, and discovers her irritatingly perfect cousin Whitney is not the Queen Bee she seems. Still, readers seeking support in their Christian faith will find Clipstons first teen novel worth sampling.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)