Skies Like These

by Tess Hilmo

In Tess Hilmo's Skies Like These, twelve-year-old Jade's perfect summers have always been spent reading and watching TV reruns, so she's not happy when her parents send her off to Wyoming to her aunt's house. She meets a boy who calls himself Roy Parker—just like the real name of the legendary rebel cowboy Butch Cassidy. Roy's dad's hardware store has closed because a chain store has opened up in town, and Roy thinks it is just like the big cattle barons in Butch's day who put the local ranchers out of business. He wants Jade to be his Sundance Kid and help him pull some stunts worthy of Butch Cassidy. Sabotage the big store? Outsmart the store's owner by doing reconnaissance on his ranch? Jade wants to be a good friend, but she's not so sure about Roy's schemes.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Friendship, Childrens, Young Adult, Family

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 15, 2014

Reviews

[Tess Hilmo]

I may be biased..okay I'm totally biased...but I had so much fun writing this novel and hope others love Roy and Jade as much as I do. Happy reading!

[Monica Hills · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok middle grade book. Jade goes to Wyoming over summer break and meets Roy. He is determined to get his dad’s hardware store back no matter what the cost. He is also obsessed with Butch Cassidy. There were some good lessons for kids and I liked the main character. However it did drag in some parts. I think my students would lose interest at some parts of the book.

[Aeicha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tess Hilmo’s Skies Like These is a delightful and heart-warming middle-grade contemporary filled with laughs, unexpected adventure, and a whole lotta heart!

Twelve year old Jade is sent, by her parents, to her aunt’s house in Wyoming, in hopes she has as a real summer experience, not just one spent indoors or in front of the tv. In Wyoming, Jade helps her aunt around her dog ranch and meets a boy who calls himself Roy Parker. Roy is obsessed with the cowboy legend, Butch Cassidy and fancies himself a cowboy rebel. The hardware store owned by Roy’s father has gone out of business because of the new big box chain that opened up in town. Roy wants to thwart the new store’s owner and get his dad’s store back up...and he wants Jade as his partner in crime!

Skies Like These was a lot of fun to read and left me with such a happy heart! Tess Hilmo is so dang good at spinning relatable and realistic stories full of sweet friendships; inspiring self discovery; and endearing characters, and capturing small town life so perfectly! Lovely small town Wyoming and the doggie ranch make for a captivating setting full of possibilities and endless fun. And Jade and Roy definitely find fun...and mischief, hard truths, surprising people, poignant lessons, breathtaking beauty, and as much love as there are stars in the skies! Hilmo writes with such amusing charm and fills her pages with humor, heart, gorgeous descriptions, and a pitch-perfect middle-grade voice.

There are so many wonderful and engaging characters in Skies Like These! Jade and Roy make for an entertaining, fun duo, whose different personalities awesomely play off of each other. Like smart, logical Jade, I was wary at first of Roy’s wild shenanigan schemes and outlaw plans, but she and I both warmed up quickly to his infectious mischief making and grand ideas. While the plenty of laughs, adventure, and cowboy fun make Skies Like These exciting, it also explores family, friendship, love, sacrifice, and staying true to oneself in a quietly beautiful way.

My Final Thoughts: Skies Like These, with its lovely setting; charming writing; and terrific characters, is a sweet, fun book that will leave your heart feeling sunny and ready for your own cowboy adventure!

[SaraKat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because it was mentioned in my children's literature book as an example of the 'line drawn in the sand' plot device. The protagonist says she is going to hate her visit to Wyoming and that her Aunt is a weirdo. Of course, we know that's not true because we didn't sign up to read a 200 page treatise on how Wyoming is bad. :) I loved another book by this author, so I had high hopes for this one and wasn't disappointed. It is basically a love letter to simpler lives and open skies. Aunt Elise is a wise shaman-like character who is always making deep philosophical statements:

If the mountain was smooth, you wouldn't be able to climb it.

And teaching Jade interesting rituals like floating away troubles on makeshift rafts and listening to the stars to find answers to problems.

Roy Parker was a great character. He is in love with the romanticism of cowboy Robin Hood. He is full of schemes and you have to smile at him while shaking your head at his evil genius ideas. :) Roy has his own lessons to teach us:

There comes a time in everyone's life when they have to decide if they're going to accept themselves as they are or keep wishing they were someone else.

Roy has an unhealthy obsession with being a descendant of his hero.

It is always difficult to have a dream that can't come true. Roy's realization that his father is exactly the kind of hero that he has been idolizing all this time was really moving. It made me think of my father, who is the same way. :)

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

1 Sentence Summary: Jade is not excited to live with her aunt in Wyoming for the summer, but then she meets a boy named Roy Parker who is full of crazy schemes and her summer starts to look like it's going to be a lot more fun than she thought.

My Thoughts: This was sweet, but honestly pretty boring. Sometimes there'd just be pages of dialogue. It had a nice message, but it wasn't very fun to read. Personally, I liked Tess Hilmo's With a Name like Love much better than this book.

Recommend to: People who love Wyoming.

[Cari Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jade is less than thrilled when her mom sends her to spend some time with her crazy aunt Elise in Wyoming. She would rather have spent her summer indoors, doing things that were safe and interesting than helping out on her aunt’s little dog ranch in the middle of nowhere.

But Jade is surprised to find that in Wyoming, nothing is little – not the storms that seem to come cracking out of nowhere and disappear again just as quickly, not the wide-open skies filled with more stars than she’s ever seen in her life, and definitely not the personality of Roy, her aunt’s 12-year-old neighbor who assigns himself to be her best friend.

Roy is only too happy to show city-girl Jade what real cowboy life is like, and he should know: he claims to be descended from none other than the famous Butch Cassidy, outlaw hero and American legend. And Roy has every intention of putting that outlaw heritage of his to work. He’s got big plans to sabotage the new hardware store in town, the very place that put his dad’s hardware store out of business. Jade isn’t too sure about becoming Roy’s side-kick in his increasingly dangerous plans, which include spying, stealing valuable artwork and possibly even robbing a bank. Two kids just can’t rob a bank and get away with it, can they? Well, Roy is pretty sure they can, and Jade will have to do some fast thinking if she’s going to keep them both out of trouble.

[Angie]

http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...#


I fully agree with, "A robust cast of well-developed characters and a delightful, swiftly moving plot will leave readers wishing for Jade to extend her stay in Wyoming." If I would have had the time, I could have finished this book in one sitting. I have 6th grade twin boys and they couldn't wait for me to finish it so they could read it also. Definitely going on my list of "must reads" for boys and girls Grades 4-7.

[Liz Hokanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is just fun. And, now I want to visit Wyoming like maybe forever.

[Teresa Osgood · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Robinson Crusoe doesn't seem very bright . . . he would have saved himself a mess of trouble if he'd listened to his dad and stayed in England." Jade doesn't stay home for the summer, like she would have preferred. She reluctantly discovers dogs and storms and wide-open spaces. Also a new friend, who has some carefully planned but truly bad ideas about heroism. Instead of getting caught up in the danger, she successfully talks him out of trying the most illegal ones. Jade and her friend learn important lessons and have some good experiences. But their adventures are so gentle that I found myself inventing scandals and ulterior motives for the adults to make it more exciting. It turns out they're all pretty nice, too. This is a good story about realistic people, but not a thrill.

It did, however, allow me to check Wyoming off my 50 states settings list without reading a Billionaire Cowboy Fake Boyfriend type of novel.

[Liliya Rubanenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story about a girl named Jade who goes to live with her aunt for the summer and meets a boy named Roy who is obsessed with the cowboy Butch Cassidy. Throughout the story, Roy helps Jade learn to dream big and follow her dreams and Jade helps Roy to learn to appreciate who you are. I would use this book in the classroom to teach about friendship and following your dreams.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Copyright: 2014

[Brooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

I put this on my “To-Read” list thinking I would like it. I was wrong. From the first chapter I knew i wasn’t going to like it. Maybe I’m not into these kinds of books? But it just does not appeal to me.

[Jess Verzello · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story that shares how to find true heroes in our everyday lives.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Enjoyable, if a tad predictable. I didn’t love the character of the young boy too much, which is a shame. Worth reading though. It has some good lessons and a decent story.

[Karyn Tripp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the three of hers I just read, but still a sweet story. My daughter loved it!

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet story. The children are written well that even as an adult I still relate to Jade and Roy.

Oh! - and I loved the friendship and that it didn't have to turn into a romance.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story....lots of good life lessons

[Suzanne Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

She is a great writer that has unique stories with sweet values interwoven into the story.

[brianna. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much dialogue(?)

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

My copy was provided by Netgalley.

Jade has always had the same summers of never going anywhere, of doing nothing but sitting in front of the TV. She's never experienced an exciting summer, but her parents have decided to ship her off to her aunt's house so she could finally have an adventure.

And she certainly found an adventure. In Wyoming, she meets Roy Parker, a twelve-year-old boy who thinks he is descending from the actual cowboy Butch Cassidy. Roy wants to have his own adventure like Butch so when a hardware chain store shuts down Roy's father's store, Roy is determined to drive the owner out of town, just like the real Butch Cassidy would.

Roy tries to get Jade to be his sidekick, the Sundance Kid, but Jade doesn't know if what Roy is trying to do is right or not. Even though Roy is trying to help his father, he's also hurting others in the process.

This is a book about learning what's right and what's wrong. Roy wants to fight for what he believes in no matter what, even if his actions are illegal. Jade wants to help Roy's family, but she doesn't want to hurt anyone. She tries to think things through and help people the right way. Even though she doesn't want to disappoint Roy, she wants to help everyone and not just him.

I liked all the details about Wyoming and the Wild West. I learned about the Wild West and the adventure. As the characters learned about the true adventure of the west, I learned about it as well. I felt as if the descriptions transported me directly to Wyoming even though I've never been there in real life.

There were actual problems that were faced and defeated. I'm sure many readers have had a parent that lost their job and the readers wanted to help their parents in any way they could. Of course, I'm sure they never thought to rob a bank like Roy did, but Skies Like These taught you to think your problems through. If you use your head, you can do anything, no matter how impossible it may seem.

This book can be considered unisex so anyone can read this book. The main character may be a girl, but Jade didn't think about fashion and "girl things" all the time. Roy was a big part of the book making it seem as if the book isn't just a girl book.

I'm sure numerous readers will want to pick this book up, no matter the gender. This book was delightful and funny. I enjoyed it and flew right through it. This was definitely a fun, quick read.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sagebrush dotted out across the fields like silver freckles on a beige landscape. Gauzy clouds layered the sky above in varying shades of pink. And as always, the Tetons stood watch over their valley. Jade looked up at those raspberry-swirled clouds and thought about Tilly in her pink house--how she would love the sky at that moment."

Just one of my favorite descriptive passages from Tess Hilmo's latest book. And the skies aren't the only thing I loved! While the setting is beautiful, the characters truly make this story fantastic, and there was wonderful character development for all three main characters, Roy, Jade, and Elise.

While 12 year old Jade isn't thrilled to spend a part of her summer vacation in Wyoming with her colorful aunt Elise, she soon makes friends with the neighbor boy, Roy, who is obsessed with Butch Cassidy. Roy teaches Jade about the life of a cowboy and drags her into his summer plot to get revenge on the man who he feels is responsible for his father's hardware store's closing. In the process, both he and Jade learn about their own family histories.

At the conclusion of the story, I have my own ideas of how the story should continue, because the characters are believable enough to make me care about them. In the sequel in my head, Jade comes back to Wellington every summer, Roy teaches her to ride horses, and Elise eventually learns how to cook. I would also like to know more about Jade's family in Philadelphia.

Written for the middle grade audience, this story is sweet and beautifully written, with enough plot surprises to keep one guessing. The imagery and language style are well crafted and wonderful. It's easy enough for a young person to understand, but interesting and compelling enough for adults to find it a wonderful book, too. In a time when so many books geared for young people are all about the silly pranks and girly crushes of junior high, this book is witty and funny without compromising. I'm going to recommend it to my 11 year old son, my 13 year old daughter, and my adult friends.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jade is spending her summer in Wyoming with her aunt Elise who she hasn't seen since she was a little girl. She meets Roy Parker who styles himself as a true cowboy and a descendant of Butch Cassidy (real name Roy Parker). Roy's family is going through some hard times since his father had to close his hardware store. Roy blames Kip Farley for all the troubles because he built a giant franchise store not far from the Parker's store. Roy devises all kinds of schemes to get back at Farley; everything from fish heads hidden throughout the store to planning to sell his stuff on ebay to robbing the local bank (Roy only actually does the fish). Jade wants to be supportive of Roy, but isn't comfortable breaking the law. All Jade's previous summers have been quite, but this one is full of adventure and fun.

I thought this was an excellent book about family and adventure and finding yourself. Both Jade and Roy go through transformations during their summer together. Jade loosens up a bit and learns that real adventure can be a lot of fun. Roy has to come to terms with his family situation and his heritage. The bonus with the book is that you also learn a lot about Butch Cassidy and star gazing. I think there is something for everyone here.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Jade has been sent to Wyoming to spend the summer with her aunt who runs a canine boarding business. Aunt Elise gave up her high-pressure job with a law firm back in Philadelphia for a different kind of life in the West. Jade falls in love with all the wonderful dogs and spends time with a local boy, Roy Parker, who is convinced that he is a descendant of Butch Cassidy. I enjoyed watching Jade come out of her shell, have a few adventures, and take a risk or two, but I also enjoyed watching Roy recover from his big disappointment and realize that are many ways to be a hero. Cowboys aren't the only ones that can act in a heroic way. The book is filled with plenty of humor and some zany plots hatched by Roy who is determined to find a way to get his father's hardware store open once again. But sometimes the things we want for others aren't what they actually want. Filled with heart, hope, and some terrific characters, this book would be a delightful read aloud for middle graders returning from their own summer vacations. I think they'll enjoy the descriptions of wisdom gleaned from nights spent on the rooftop gazing at stars just as meaningful as I did. I enjoyed this title just as much as the author's earlier With a Name like Love. She certainly understands families and family dynamics.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet, sweet story! The characters are super loveable. The scenery is unique and special. Jade, the main character, is sent to Wyoming to spend the summer with her Aunt Elise. She's a city girl and feels way out of her element. She misses Philadelphia; the library, the sidewalks, and the shops in her neighborhood. Her Aunt Elise runs a doggy daycare and Jade doesn't quite get her in the beginning. She's free, she's eccentric, and she deeply loves Wyoming; all the things that are so NOT Philadelphia. Pretty soon after her arrival, Jade meets Roy. Roy is literally obsessed with Butch Cassidy and convinced that he's related to him. He devises a plan to prove it and to save his father's hardward store, which has recently been forced to shut its doors. Some of Roy's methods are risky and very Butch Cassidy in style. Jade's definitely way more careful and cautious and becomes worried that Roy will get into trouble. She comes up with a plan of her own and it takes several people to convince Roy that he's a hero no matter what. In the end, Jade falls in love with Wyoming, with the daycare pups, with her Aunt Elise and with her new friend, Roy. It's a great story for boys and girls between the ages of 9 to 12, but maybe leaning on the older end. This is yet another Tess Hilmo title that has won my heart.

[Anastasia Tuckness · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great realistic fiction book about a 12-year-old girl (Jade) who has grown up in Philly and is very much a rule-follower, toe-the-line kind of gal. Except for one thing--every year she lies in her "what I did this summer" essays, making up grand adventures. When her parents figure this out, they decide that real adventure is the best antidote, and they send her out to Wyoming for the summer.

Dogs, storms, a friend who kind of thinks he's Butch Cassidy (or at least a direct descendent), skinned knees, and really bad bison stew await her during her month-long stay with her aunt Elise. Over the course of her time there, Jade learns a ton about friendship, relaxing, and helping others.

Aunt Elise is incredibly quotable--here's a few I found especially poignant--

On why Grand Teton looks so rough--"If the mountain was smooth, you wouldn't be able to climb it."

On things that don't turn out quite right--"Who cares about perfect? Perfect has no personality."

On Wyoming's night skies (so great she built a roof-top viewing area)--"Skies like these make you believe you can do anything."

This book would be great for school-age kids who are reading up and readers who are ready to think about growing up but don't like romance-y stuff in their books.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about how to appreciate what you have and how sometimes change is good. When Jade’s mom finds her notebook detailing the boring summers she has had, she sends her to her aunt’s house in Wyoming. Jade is not happy at first, but finds herself drawn to her aunt and a neighbor boy. Roy is pretty sure he is a descendent of Billy the Kid and feels that due to problems in his family, needs to behave just like him. He wants to fight for what he feels is right, no matter how illegal the activity might be or who it may hurt in the process. Jade goes along with some of it, but stands back when his ideas get too crazy. She also helps her aunt set up a star gazing class so she can make some money to help Roy’s family.

Characters are realistic and many students will be able to relate to them. The problems the parents and kids are facing are realistic and probably apply to many of my students. Jade also fights for her beliefs, including disappointing Roy when things get too out of hand. The details of the Wyoming setting are great for those of us who have never been there.

Digital copy from Netgalley

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Jade's mother has sent her to Wyoming to spend the summer with her aunt who runs a doggie boarding business. Aunt Elise gave up her high-pressure job with a law firm back in Philadelphia for a different kind of life in the West. Jade falls in love with all the wonderful dogs and spends time with a local boy, Roy Parker, who is convinced that he is a descendant of Butch Cassidy. I enjoyed watching Jade come out of her shell, have a few adventures, and take a risk or two, but I also enjoyed watching Roy recover from his big disappointment and realize that are many ways to be a hero. Cowboys aren't the only ones that can act in a heroic way. The book is filled with plenty of humor and some zany plots hatched by Roy who is determined to find a way to get his father's hardware store open once again. But sometimes the things we want for others aren't what they actually want. Filled with heart, hope, and some terrific characters, this book would be a delightful read aloud for middle graders returning from their own summer vacations. I think they'll enjoy the descriptions of wisdom gleaned from nights spent on the rooftop gazing at stars enticing.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jade is in Wellington, Wyoming visiting her aunt. While there, she befriends a cowboy wannabee, Roy, who is certain that he is related to his idol Butch Cassidy. When a big-box hardware store puts his dad's hardware store out of business, Roy is determined to bring down the owner of the big-box store Butch Cassidy style. He ropes Jade into some of his plans, although Jade tries to dissuade her friend from carrying out his more unsavory plans. I enjoyed the story for a number of reasons not least of which is that it takes place in Wyoming, a state I hold near and dear in my heart. Jade's awe of how different Wyoming is compared to her home state of Pennsylvania mirrored my awe of the state when I visited for the first time. It was also refreshing to read a story that had two protagonists who didn't have the usual problems that are nearly ubiquitous in tween books these days: divorce, death of a parent (or both!), bullies, or that pesky one - learning that they, and they alone, must save the world! This was just a nice, cozy story about family and friendship. I hope the author has more adventures in store for these characters.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I requested this book on NetGalley because the cover is so inviting -- I want to go to there! I was wary to read it, though, because of the Butch Cassidy plot; I don't like when book characters make unwise decisions / commit crimes. But I'm glad I finally picked it up, because it's a quick read with a lot of heart.

The main character, Jade, isn't too likable in the first few pages, but as she warms up to Wyoming, her Aunt Elise, and the animals, she sheds her not-too-polite, mopey attitude and becomes a likable, relatable character. And her new friend Roy Parker is just the kind of scheming, risk-taking kid to keep her summer interesting.

My only regret is that I can't meet Astro and the other dogs of the ranch in person!

Note: I received a digital galley of this book through NetGalley.

[Sarah Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This summer vacation will be like none other for Jade who is used to quiet summers reading and watching TV. She has been sent to Wyoming to stay with an aunt she hasn't seen in years. On her first day in Wyoming she meets a wannabe Butch Cassidy, who has even renamed himself Roy Parker (Butch Cassidy's real name) after his idol. Roy turns Jade's summer upside down when he enlists her as his sidekick to help save his family's hardware store through a few harebrained Butch Cassidy style stunts that aren't completely legal. Jade thinks a better plan for earning money and keeping Roy out of trouble is for him to enter a cowboy poetry contest and she will host astronomy classes on her aunt’s roof. Finding her sense of adventure and a true friend is more than Jade could ask for from her summer. This book will serve as many readers’ inspiration for trying something new.