This was a gentle read, about a girl coping with grief and making the best of a tough situation. I don't know that it was a unique story (many aspects reminded me of Counting by 7s, though without quite the emotional impact) but I was enchanted and once I got into it I didn't want to put it down. There are many references to New Mexico (a setting that is hard to come by in middle grade and YA books), so that was interesting, as well.

This was a beautifully written story of the love of family. I really fell in love with the characters and was easily able to empathize with protagonist Stevie because I myself have lost my mother. The longing Stevie feels for how life with her parents used to be is how I feel when I think of my mother; I miss her terribly and long for the days when she was still with us. Ms. Holt weaves an incredible story of love, loss and the beauty that comes with being flawed. Be thankful for each today and be especially thankful for family; those are the ties that bind and endure.

This is a beautiful story about Stevie, finding her new "home" after a tragic accident has happened. I loved the talk of gardening and flowers and how that helped us see Stevie grow and change through different references to them. I felt for Stevie and wanted to reach into the book and hug her and help her deal. But she does seem to find her way and where she belongs.

Stevie's parents are both killed when a car hits their produce stand, so she must leave New Mexico to live with the grandfather she has never met in Texas. He runs a decrepit hotel, and has quite an interesting staff. Stevie is not sent to the public school, but tutored by the narcoleptic Mrs. Crump at her home, along with the frequently truant Frida. Stevie helps Violet, the head housekeeper, gets to know Roy, the handyman's son, and hangs out with Horace and Ida, long term residents. Stevie misses gardening, so gets her new friends to help her put a garden in to help the appearance of the hotel. She eventually gets to visit her father's sister, and learns some of the details about her parents' lives that her grandfather doesn't want to share.
Strengths: The motel setting and the cast of somewhat quirky characters was very fun, especially the very cute Roy. Stevie grieves occasionally, but the book is generally upbeat. The gardening angle is interesting.
Weaknesses: More dead middle grade parents and estranged grandparents. I sort of want to poll my students to see what percentage of them have never met their grandparents, because a whole lot of middle grade books hinge on that plot device.
What I really think: This was well written and fairly engaging, but it was also slow. I want to see a finished copy, because the cover shot makes it look like an odd size. The cover will help this one (in a way that the cover of Effie Zook doesn't), but this may not circulate very much. Debating.