BOOKS: THE BIG SHUFFLE - Hallie Palmer Returns!

"Best pick for teen/young adult..."

See also last year's Rebel Review: Teenage Angst

THE BIG SHUFFLE
by Laura Pedersen
(Ballantine Books, 2006)

Trade Paperback, 372 pgs, $13.95 U.S.

Just in time for Christmas, Hallie Palmer returns! In the third installment of Laura Pedersen's Hallie-centered trilogy (thus far)[which would make an excellent gift for a teenage or young adult reader], the spirited former high school dropout, runaway, semi-professional gambler/math genius is pulled out of art school, called home upon her father's untimely death. Hallie's mom is left with 10 children, 8 under the age of 18. (We finally figure out the names of all the brothers and sisters and get to know them a bit.)

Momma has a nervous breakdown (and wouldn't you, too?) and goes away for a nice rest to the local mental hospital. Hallie steps in to carry on. It is a rude awakening for an 18-year-old who left home at the age of 15 to escape the chaos. Hallie heroically takes over, organizing her father's funeral, managing the household and caring for her 8 younger siblings.

Fortunately, the colorful characters we know and love from BEGINNER'S LUCK and HEART'S DESIRE are all in place, with a few new lively additions, to support Hallie and help her eventually get back to life as a teenager.

THE BIG SHUFFLE is much darker than the first two books, but at this point we are all so invested in Hallie Palmer and friends, and Laura Pedersen's straightforward, funny, clever writing style, you can't help but enjoy the continuing adventures of a wonderful character and an endearing supporting cast -- which is good, because there's one more Hallie book in the works!