- Nominated for the Red Cedar Book Award, 2000
Review
Three little words – “one year commencing” – turn Alison’s world upside-down. The words, cited in a custody order, obligate 12-year-old Al, who has always lived with her mom, to live for a year with her dad. The order states further that, at the end of the year, Al will determine where and, therefore, with whom she will live.
Kathy Stinson, popular picture book and juvenile non-fiction author, sets a good stage for her second YA novel. Al’s protective mom is an artist who lives on a tight budget in comfortable clutter in Alberta. Al’s dad works in real estate, is financially well off, and lives tidily in Toronto. Both parents love Al and want her to be happy. Al loves both parents and works hard to please them equally. The court order presents Al with a terrible dilemma. How can she choose one parent over the other?