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3rd out of 50 books
—
10 voters
Rocky Road
by
Rose Kent
Ice cream warms the heart, no matter what the weather.
That's the Dobson family motto. Whenever things get tough, they break out the special heart-shaped bowls and make sundaes. The road has been especially rocky lately for Tess and her deaf little brother, Jordan. Their plucky Texan mother talks big, but her get-rich-quick business schemes have only landed them in serious...more
That's the Dobson family motto. Whenever things get tough, they break out the special heart-shaped bowls and make sundaes. The road has been especially rocky lately for Tess and her deaf little brother, Jordan. Their plucky Texan mother talks big, but her get-rich-quick business schemes have only landed them in serious...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
June 8th 2010
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
(first published June 3rd 2010)
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Sewing, crocheting, crafty Tess Dobson has the weight of the world on her twelve-year-old shoulders as she finds herself, her deaf eight-year-old brother, and her mother, living in an assisted living facility in Schenectady, New York, once her virtually penniless mother moves them there from San Antonio, Texas in the middle of winter. Unfortunately, she’s more adult than her mother, Delilah, who suffers from Shooting Stars (undiagnosed Bipolar Disorder). Delilah refuses to take the time to prope...more
This was a sweet one (pun intended). If you enjoyed Joan Bauer's "Close to Famous", definitely check this one out too.
Tess Dobson moves with her mom and brother to the town of Schenectady, NY. Her mom dreams of opening an ice cream shop in their new town, but Tess isn't thrilled with the idea. Tess is used to her mother coming up grand ideas, but never following through, especially when her mother's condition that Tess calls "Shooting Stars" enters the picture. (Adults reading this will guess pr...more
Tess Dobson moves with her mom and brother to the town of Schenectady, NY. Her mom dreams of opening an ice cream shop in their new town, but Tess isn't thrilled with the idea. Tess is used to her mother coming up grand ideas, but never following through, especially when her mother's condition that Tess calls "Shooting Stars" enters the picture. (Adults reading this will guess pr...more
Who moves to Schenectady, New York with plans to open an ice cream shop in the middle of winter? That’s what twelve-year-old Tess is wondering as she’s on the way there from San Antonio, Texas. Tess and her little brother Jordan, who is deaf, have seen a lot of their mother’s pie-in-the-sky plans crash and burn, along with most of the family’s savings. So she’s sure this new venture will be a disaster, especially since her mother tends to have bouts of boundless energy followed by times when she...more
Recommended Age:
12+
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars
Overall Review:
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...more
12+
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars
Overall Review:
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...more
What's the next best thing to eating ice cream? Reading about it, of course! Especially when it's 100 degrees outside...
Tess Dobson's mother is driving her crazy. On a whim, Delilah Dobson is moving her two kids, Tess and Jordan, to Schenectady, New York to open an ice cream shop. In the middle of winter. Having been subject to the consequences of her mother's whims before, Tess is not very supportive of the move and the business venture. The Dobson family has suffered through evictions and mult...more
Tess Dobson's mother is driving her crazy. On a whim, Delilah Dobson is moving her two kids, Tess and Jordan, to Schenectady, New York to open an ice cream shop. In the middle of winter. Having been subject to the consequences of her mother's whims before, Tess is not very supportive of the move and the business venture. The Dobson family has suffered through evictions and mult...more
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This book is about a girl and her family who move from San Antonio, Texas to Schenectady, New York when her mother gets an idea to open up an ice cream shop. Her mother has lots of ideas but she's bipolar and cannot follow through on anything. The main character Tess has to take care of everything (including her deaf little brother) and save her mother's business. In the beginning of the book, Tess is very negative because she had been disappointed by her mother many times. But throughout the st...more
I was able to identify with Tess so much. I have a sister and niece both with bi-polar disorder. For a short time my sister and her children lived with me. One minute my sister would be fine and the next she wasn't. The roller coaster ride was horrible. I felt so sorry for Tess and Jordan as they were drug along on their mother's ride. This book showed there was hope out there. So often these kinds of stories make you feel like all is lost. When Tess's mom decides to move them to New York from T...more
I am a real fan of middle-grade girl protagonists like Tess - she demonstrates to young readers just how it's possible for a fictional character to be absolutely true-to-life, if written well. Tess is an absolutely real combination of grit & fear, at turns handling the tough situations her life throws her with grace & strength, at other times feeling like she just can't hold it together any more. Tess has spent the last few years holding her family - herself, her somewhat wild deaf young...more
Tess Dobson has been uprooted from her life in San Antonio and moved across the country to snowy Schenectady. Her mom has a wild idea about opening an ice cream shop there. So she packed up the car and moved Tess and her brother Jordan, who is deaf, to New York. Tess finds herself living in an assisted living facility surrounded by old people. She is worried that her mom's scheme will not pan out and they will be broke and homeless. Her mom suffers from "Shooting Stars" (bipolar disorder) but re...more
Delilah Dobson: plucky Southern mom of Tess and Jordan, prone to severe mood swings referred to as "shooting stars",loves get-rich-quick schemes.
Tess Dobson: 12 year-old fashionista extraordinaire, member of peer mediation club, resourceful.
Jordan Dobson: Tess' 8 year-old brother, reptile lover, deaf.
Combine these characters and you get a dynamic story of the Dobson family moving cross-country to start an ice cream shop in Schenectady, New York. Responsible Tess is anything but excited though as...more
Tess Dobson: 12 year-old fashionista extraordinaire, member of peer mediation club, resourceful.
Jordan Dobson: Tess' 8 year-old brother, reptile lover, deaf.
Combine these characters and you get a dynamic story of the Dobson family moving cross-country to start an ice cream shop in Schenectady, New York. Responsible Tess is anything but excited though as...more
This book was touching and heart-swelling about 12-yr-old Tess Dobson. Her parents divorced five years ago, and her seven-going-on-eight year old brother, Jordan, is deaf.
While they move to a little town in New York, Tess is unhappy and conserved. She can't tell her mother what she thinks (aka, how her mother, Delilah Dobson, cannot understand Jordan, moved them away from Texas without a single warning, and how her mother's problems are getting worse and worse). Tess' mother has "Shooting Stars...more
While they move to a little town in New York, Tess is unhappy and conserved. She can't tell her mother what she thinks (aka, how her mother, Delilah Dobson, cannot understand Jordan, moved them away from Texas without a single warning, and how her mother's problems are getting worse and worse). Tess' mother has "Shooting Stars...more
I don't know what I expected when I picked up this book, but I didn't expect it to be about a twelve year old. I think that the author got the age completely wrong, because no twelve year old acts the way that this girl did. It was a really good story, but I felt like it almost came off a little cheap because of the narrator. Don't worry though, I would still suggest it, just maybe to a younger crowd. Another positive note? I will be trying the recipes in the back, no lie.
Oh jeez. This story was ridiculous. I can't really think of anything that I liked about it. The constant southern expressions nearly made me toss the book across the room in annoyance. The mother needed to be institutionalized immediately and she had zero redeeming qualities.
I don't even want to waste any more time on a review of this book. Horrid.
I don't even want to waste any more time on a review of this book. Horrid.
I really liked the local details about this book -- which the majority of kids won't care about. It was a good story with a good message about a girl who is independent and trying to make the best of a bad situation. However, pretty unrealistic, I think the character should have been at least 14 or 15 instead of 12.
This was just a really sweet book. It wasn't very challenging and it didn't change my life but I really liked it. It was mildly touching and had an interesting premise and lovely characters. I liked it and I hope that more people read it. :-)
An adventure of a girl who has to move from Texas to Maine in a car without a heater, who worries her mother is sick, and still has to take care of her death little brother. In it, she learns a whole lot about staying strong--and ice cream.
Wish the main character had been older than 12. Good story but hard to believe a 12 year old handled all that comes her way in this book.
Peer mediation would be a tie in to some school sites.
Good presentation of a deaf ed child and ASL.
Peer mediation would be a tie in to some school sites.
Good presentation of a deaf ed child and ASL.
When Tess Dobson's mom decides to move her and her younger brother, Jordan, who is deaf from Texas to New York, Tess is filled with dread. Predictable but also deals with the challenges of a bipolar parent as well as her brother's disability.
Who moves to Schenectady, NY in the middle of winter to open an ice cream store? Leave it to Tess' mom...
Rose Kent does it again! Quirky, endearing characters enliven her well-paced plot. Well written, literary fiction!
I loved this book. I was a little concerned about the bipolar disorder, but I stand by and will suggest this book. Tess's mother suffers from bipolar but that term is not used until about 2/3 of the way through the book. Tess calls it "shooting stars". Her mom moves her and her deaf brother to Schenectady from Texas with this idea of opening an ice cream shop. Tess struggles with starting at a new school, making new friends, and managing her mother's mood swings. They move into a senior living c...more
Great read! Mom being bipolar was dealt with in a kind, but realistic way. Love the dots on the cover!! And by the end of the book, the title becomes perfect for the story!!!
Once again Tess's (undiagnosed) manic-depressive mother is on a high and moving Tess and her deaf brother, Jordan, from Texas to NY. She has big plans to open an ice cream shop, but Tess is afraid this is another big dream that will end up in flames.
May 03, 2010
Martha
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
middle school girls
Shelves:
middle-school,
2010
I appreciate a story where parent/child relationship actually gets better in the book. And older people are not just "characters" but have personalities as well.
This book was amazing and it showed how a child feels when all burdens are placed on them but how it is possible to make it though with help and true friends.
Wonderful blend of characters, fun storyline, and beautiful resolution. One of my favorite reads this year and some delicious recipes at the end as well!
A coming of age story, with quirky characters and a believable plot. It is hard to resist a story based around ice cream!
Picked up an extra ARC after it was published at a conference. Was looking in my TBR stack for a "lighter read" between all of the stories I've been reading about cancer and life in war torn countries. Was not prepared for this book to have main characters with Bipolar disorder, absent father and brother who is deaf, told from the viewpoint of the 12 year old daughter, I am really enjoying this book so far. I am loving the quirky town characters, especially Chief, Winnie, Pete and Gabby. A wonde...more
Okay, I'll let the inaccuracies about upstate New York and the non-rocky road ice cream on the cover slide, because honestly, this one did a good and honest job of covering lots of things that needed to be covered, bipolar disorder in particular.
This is a good read dealing with some fairly heavy issues, particularly bipolar disorder and peer mediation. I did find some aspects of the story to be a stretch, however. The main character is mature well beyond her twelve years, often unbelievably so.
My Favorite book EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! by Far!!!!
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