![\"forever_rose.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/forever_rose.jpg\")
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Forever Rose<\/em><\/p>\n by Hilary McKay<\/p>\n Margaret K. McElderry Books, New York, 2008.\u00a0 291 pages.<\/p>\n Starred Review.<\/p>\n Although I admit to often staying up later than I should in order to finish wonderful books, it\u2019s been awhile since a book lured me into finishing it in the morning before going to work.\u00a0 Fortunately, I was close to the end, because I don\u2019t think I would have been able to stop once I picked up Forever Rose <\/em>and thought I\u2019d just read a little more\u2026.<\/p>\n The Casson family is back, as wonderful and chaotic as ever.\u00a0 Rose is having some rough times.\u00a0 Her teacher is so mean, he won\u2019t even let the class celebrate Christmas.\u00a0 In fact, school is no longer a peaceful place where you can catch up on your daydreaming.\u00a0 Her family never seems to be at home.\u00a0 And then her brother\u2019s big friend who always seems to be in the way starts showing up at their house, looking for a place to keep his drum set.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, Rose learns that when your friend says, \u201cPromise you will help, please promise you will help!\u201d\u00a0 You should NOT answer, \u201cOf course we will!\u201d\u00a0 Instead, you should say, \u201cHelp you with what?\u201d<\/p>\n Rose is also having trouble with reading.\u00a0 She explains, \u201cIf you finish one book, they make you pick another.\u00a0 And as soon as you finish that, they send you off to the book boxes again.\u00a0 And each book is a little bit harder than the one before.\u00a0 It\u2019s called Reading Schemes and it\u2019s just like a story Indigo once told me about a dragon with two heads.\u00a0 And when the dragon\u2019s two heads were cut off, it grew four.\u00a0 And when they were cut off, it grew eight. . .\u201d<\/p>\n If you haven\u2019t yet become friends with the artistic and lovable Casson family, you will want to start with the first book, Saffy\u2019s Angel.\u00a0 <\/em>If you already know and love them, I am happy to report that the latest installment in their story is as quirky and delightful as ever.<\/p>\n I did finish the book before going to work \u2013 the perfect way to ensure starting my day with a smile.<\/p>\n Buy from Amazon.com<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n Find this review on the main site at:<\/p>\n