Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave by Jen White - ADVISABLE

White, Jen Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave, 311 pgs. MacMillan (Farrar Straus Giroux) 2015. $16.99. 

Language: G ( 0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG .  

12-year old Liberty and her 8-year old sister Billie have recently lost their mother.  After she passed away, their mother’s friend contacted their long lost father who agreed to come get them in San Diego.  But while camping with him in the desert, the girls are abandoned at a gas station in the middle of nowhere.  They have no idea where their father is, and no way to contact anyone for help.  Desperate to stay together, Liberty tries to take care of Billie on her own.  

This is a well written, debut novel. The girls, forced into a dangerous situation, make some bad decisions which (thankfully) turn out alright.  The backstory presented in pieces doesn’t labor the plot.  Overall a good story.  A couple of short domestic violence situations, otherwise a clean, exciting read.  

EL, MS - ADVISABLE  Lisa Librarian