Title: Solace of the Road
Author: Siobhan Dowd
Summary: Holly has lived for the past seven years as a ‘care babe,’ in group homes and foster placements in England. When she moves in with a new set of potential foster parents right before her 15th birthday, all she can think about is running and finding her way back to where she was born, and where she knows that her mother is waiting for her: Ireland. One day when she is snooping in the new house, she finds a blond wig. When she puts it on, she is transformed from sad, lonely Holly into the free-spirited, wild girl she names Solace.
Becoming Solace is all the motivation Holly needs to make the break. Soon, armed with only a bit of money and a road map from London to the western coast, she is on her way. During her long, dangerous journey, she is forced to come to terms with the real nature of her mother’s disappearance.
Who will like this book?: This outstanding book is perfect for girls who feel like they are older than their years, fans of realistic fiction, and readers who enjoy stories about the lives of people in difficult family situations.
If you like this, try this: This, quite sadly, is the final book written by the late Siobhan Dowd. She was a masterful storyteller, and her previous books are highly recommended: The London Eye Mystery for middle grade readers, Bog Child, and A Swift Pure Cry for mature readers.
Recommended by: Nicole, Teen Librarian