3.5 stars/5 stars. I did not read "Prairie Evers" to which this book is apparently a companion book. (Also, although I got this book from the local library book sale shelf, it is marked as Advanced Uncorrected Galleys.) There's a lot that goes unexplained in this book (for an adult reader anyway) that maybe has been covered in Prairie Evers. Ivy's living situation for example--she starts out living with the Evers family (and seems to be enjoying it) but then her mom pops back into her life to see if she wants to come live with her. I would have thought that for Ivy to be living with a friend's family there would have been a court order or child/family services involvement--that it wouldn't have been so easy for her mom to reclaim her.

Ivy seems to feel that she has to conceal how she feels. Maybe it's a learned reaction from they way her mother responds to life? She doesn't want to be a burden to the Evers family so instead of telling them about life with her mother, she distances herself from them. Instead of going back to them, she allows the social worker to place her with Beryl (which doesn't turn out to be a bad thing).

And again, a second time, Ivy's mother just shows up expecting Ivy to go with her--but this time child/family services was definitely involved so . . . I can't believe it would just be so easy as to show up and take Ivy. I'm glad Ivy stood up for herself and to her mom and decided to live her best life. ( )

This heartfelt middle-school novel is the companion to Prairie Evers. In the original book, we met Prairie Evers and her wonderful family. They lived on a farm in the country. Ivy was new to Prairie’s school, but they became very close friends. Due to her own family situation, Ivy eventually went to live with the Evers’ family.

Now, Ivy has been reunited with her mother. They have moved back to the city where they hope to start a new life together. Ivy struggles to maintain her friendship with Prairie though long distance phone talks and weekend sleepovers. As she begins to get settled into her new school, she does make new friends, though. Her artwork seems to be taking a new exciting direction, too.

However, to her shock and disappointment, Ivy realizes that her mother has not changed. In fact, her irrational behavior, impulsiveness, and immaturity present very serious problems for both of them. As things change again for Ivy, she learns lasting lessons about friends, family, love, and above all: herself.

Ivy Blake is a hero for all ages. I think that author Ellen Airgood may be, too. ( )