Although I’ve never moved across the country in the middle of the winter to open an ice cream shop, I was immediately intrigued by Tess’s story and her unique, fiery family. I enjoyed Tess’s growth throughout the novel, and particularly loved all the interesting details about setting up and opening her mother’s ice cream store. Perhaps my favorite part of the story, though, were the wonderful characters Tess and her family come to know when they accidentally move into a retirement community. Soul-singing Winnie, militant Chief, and the other residents of Tess’s apartment complex made the book come alive for me. While at times I felt that the storyline dragged a little, and there were moments where I had trouble connecting to some of the characters, overall, I enjoyed Rocky Road and would recommend it to any preteen or young teenager who likes a good read. Rocky Road would be an especially good book for those dealing with difficult circumstances, or for those who (like all of us at one time or another!) have found it hard to find the courage to speak up when we see problems around us.
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Random House

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: 9 religious exclamations. 2 mild obscenities.

Violence/Gore: A preteen throws a pear at another preteen. A preteen throws a milk pail at another preteen. Characters argue and insult each other.

Sex/Nudity: None

Mature Subject Matter:

Mental illness, deafness, moving to a new home, parental abandonment.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

A character’s father is described as having been an alcoholic. A man smokes a cigarette. A character (now adult) says that she began smoking as a teen. A recovering smoker “pretends” to smoke by puffing on a straw or toothpick when stressed. A woman gets a job as a barmaid. An adult woman smokes a cigarette.