Almost There and Almost Not

Almost There and Almost Not
Linda Urban
Simon & Schuster, 2021
211 pages
Grades 4-7
Magical Realism

California Poppy is only eleven, but people think she's older and expect more out of her. When her distracted widowed father decides to move to Alaska to seek his fame and fortune, he dumps her off at Aunt Isabelle's. Aunt Isabelle is consumed with winning a big meatloaf contest and doesn't have time for a kid. California gets taken to elderly Aunt Monica's house to help her recuperate after a broken wrist. Aunt Monica is extra sad from the loss of her beloved husband and has made it her mission to complete the family history project that he was working on up to his death. The main subject of the project is a turn of the century authoress Eleanor Fontaine, who's specialty was proper letter writing and manners. Eleanor's ghost, as well as that of a playful pup, are lingering around Aunt Monica's house. California spends the summer learning to write proper letters, helping out her aunt, and making friends of both the worldly and unworldly sort. California begins to feel at home, but what will happen now that summer is drawing to a close?

I love the heartfelt writing of Linda Urban. Certain readers are drawn to books that are a little sad, but turn out okay, after pulling at your heartstrings. This story does just that and actually made me cry twice. Readers will immediately connect to California and be emotionally invested in her story. She shows resilience and pluck, finding friends in unexpected places and making her own fun. The book is just the right length and reads quickly, in part to the letters California practices writing, which help to move the plot along in an entertaining, yet unconventional manner. Letter writing is becoming trendy again and this story may inspire kids to try snail-mail out for themselves. The ghosts are believable and readers will sympathize with Eleanor and hope for her eventual peace. The ending is happy, yet much like real life, not perfect. The important thing is that readers will walk away knowing that California will be okay and that she has at least one responsible adult in her life on whom to count. A summer well spent.