The Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill S. Alexander--ESSENTIAL

Alexander, Jill S. The Sweetheart of Prosper County, 212 pgs. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2009. $16.99. Sexual Content: PG; Language: G (2 swears); Violence: G. Austin Gray is determined to be a hood ornament in the No-Jesus Christmas Parade. Once she’s in the parade she’ll be somebody, not just little Austin Gray whose daddy died or the butt of Dean Ottmer’s jokes. Austin decides to be the Future Farmers of America sweetheart and that means keeping livestock and winning blue ribbons. Her mom buys her a chicken for Christmas and she names Charles Dickens. She takes care of her chicken, joins the FFA, and even goes grappling, but will it be enough to become a beauty queen? Author Jill S. Alexander creates well-rounded characters that you’ll love and others who you’ll hate. The novel themes are universal and will appeal to teen girls who are figuring out who they are and what they want to be (even if they aren’t hood ornaments). MS/HS – ESSENTIAL. Samantha, Public Librarian.