The main character, a girl who grew up in the story, was funny, sad, smart and quite inspiring. Poor most of the time, she made it through many bizarre situations like having to act like she came back from the dead to get attention and donations at a religious tent revival. It's hard not to stomp your feet and get angry at the adults around this young lady who did crazy and unique things to make money and take advantage of her talents. The descriptions of the Mississippi beach town were real and interesting. Her relationships were conflicted: she loved and loathed her mom and dad. She "adopted" her own family members along the way. It's also an interesting look at poverty and makes one ask, what is the real definition of rich and poor?

While I enjoyed the realistic and educational descriptions of the trek through the Alps, it was unrealistic that foreigner Jim, described as inexperienced in that region, would have raised his hand to help the sisters he had just met. I also thought that he should have gotten serious frostbite from plunging in a mountain lake during the harsh winter. Despite these negatives the author demonstrated excellent vocabulary and analogy skills. On a final note the "runaway" and much younger man participated in a strange relationship that gave me the heebie jeebies and the totally annoying cough detail seemed unnecessary. On a positive note it was a fast read and a bargain price.