Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Saffy's Angel

Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay

Book 30 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 6 of 12 for the 2009 YA Challenge


Awards: BCCB Blue Ribbon Book; Boston Globe/Horn Book Award/Honors; NCTE Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts; SLJ Best Book; Publishers Weekly Best Book; Booklist Editors' Choice; Horn Book Fanfare; Costa/Whitbread Children's Award; Young Reader's Choice Award/Nominee; Parent's Guide Book Award/ Honor Book; ALA Notable/Best Books

rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I read Melissa's review, I knew this would be a series I would love. I was so pleased to receive this book from BookMooch today and I sat down and devoured the whole thing.

The Casson family is made up of an eccentric group of characters: Bill, the dad, lives in London where he is an almost-successful artist. Eve, the mom, is also an artist, but she spends most of her time out in the shed painting while ignoring the kids. The kids are named Cadmium, Saffron, Indigo, and Rose--all paint colors. And they live in a house named The Banana House where guinea pigs run wild in the yard and nothing is ever thrown away.

When Saffron is 8 years old, she finds out that she's actually adopted and that Eve is her biological mother's sister. As a teenager, Saffy is lonely and is trying to find her place in her crazy family when her beloved grandfather dies. She embarks on both an emotional and physical journey with the rallying support of family and friends.

This book is sweet, funny, and delightful in every way. I still have a smile just thinking about it and I can't wait to read Indigo's Star. Recommended from middle school on up.

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2 comments:

bermudaonion said...

That book does sound delightful. As a kid, I used to daydream about living in a family like that.

Angela said...

This sounds like a great book. I'm going to add it to my to-read list.