The Big Shuffle

The Big Shuffle
Laura Pedersen
Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0-345-47956-4
Fiction, Contemporary
Reviewed by Angela McCarthy

In a story that sounds like it could be sad, Laura has the ability to make it all seem upbeat and part of an every day life. When the author mentions reaching cat in the hat chaos, she’s not kidding! Each kid seems to have an endless stream of energy, but then what kid doesn’t? I can relate to Hallie. I might not have as large of a family but I can understand the desire to help people. For it seems like she’s getting it all dumped onto her shoulders. She makes it work; she tries her best which is all someone can ask of her. Together they deal with the loss of their father and their mother being in shock. Finding other relatives that they didn’t really know they had come to the rescue. As time passes they have to find their own ways to cope but yet manage to come together when push comes to shove. The community is great with their support to the Palmer family.

The author has the ability to draw you in like you are a part of the family and the goings on. There’s something in each character that is written like you know them personally. That in a way they are just like your own family with all their own quirks that make them who they are. It all just goes to show that when you work together you can get through just about anything that life throws your way.