Sweet book. ( )

Another winner by Barbara O'Connor ( )

This book left me thinking, "I want!" I want the world to be as good as it is in 'Greetings from Nowhere'. In this book, people meet up at a sleepy hotel and become friends. Everyone's life is changed, just a little bit, and for the better. I feel, having read this book, that the world is a good place, and for me to feel the goodness, all it takes is for me to put forth a little bit of niceness. Not so much that it's uncomfortable and awkward, but just a little bit, and then look around and let my eyes see all the beauty around. I want to read more books about these nice people. ( )

Ever since her husband died, Aggie Duncan has had trouble keeping up the Sleepy Time Motel. Reluctantly, she decides that it may be time to sell. That decision will bring Willow and her father to the motel in search of a fresh start -- or at least Willow's father is in search of a fresh start. Willow is missing her old life: friends, house, and the mother who left her and her father behind. Loretta, a girl just a little younger than Willow, also finds herself at the Sleepy Time motel. She's on a personal quest, with the blessing of her adoptive family, to learn a little more about her recently deceased biological mother. Kirby and his mother are also guests at the motel, and unwilling ones at that, since they were on their way to Kirby's new military school when their car broke down. Kirby's been in trouble for a long time now, and this school is his last chance. Can he find a different pattern of behavior, or will he slip back into old habits?

This book is told in alternating perspectives, shifting back and forth between the children and adults staying at the motel. The narratives bump up against each other and weave loosely together as the characters interact and learn about each other and themselves. I never felt very connected to any of them, nor did I care strongly about the outcome of the story. That's not to say that it wasn't a pleasant book, just not one that is going to grab hold of the reader's imagination. The story has a strong sense of place, and since it's a place I'm familiar with, I was able to picture it clearly. Readers looking for this sort of gentle summer story may enjoy this book, though those looking for adventure and excitement should probably look elsewhere. ( )

I borrowed this book from the elementary school library. The cast of characters consists of 8 people whose lives become intertwined for a period of time. The story lines are wrapped up nicely but not too perfectly, as one character never leaves her grumpy resentment behind for the freshness of new-found friendships. ( )