(Poll Ballot + Unofficial Trim) Out of Sorts by Aurelie Valognes - 3 stars

[Ellen]

Octogenarian Ferdinand Brun is a cantankerous gentleman living alone in an apartment complex where he shuns everyone and is ignored in return; except by the concierge, Mrs. Suarez. She would like nothing better than to have the old man sent to a retirement home and she has made this her goal. Working in secret with Ferdinand's worried daughter, who is thousands of miles away, Mrs. Suarez has insisted that she will inspect Brun's living quarters and, if they are less than pristine, out he goes. Ferdinand has spent years in his home and literally can't remember the last time he cleaned anything. Reluctantly he reaches out to his neighbor, 90 year old Beatrice, and a precocious 10-year-old upstairs neighbor, Juliette, for advice. Their cleaning woman comes to his rescue and the inspection goes quite well.

Without realizing it, Ferdinand has begun to look forward to visits from Juliette who shares his love of detective stories. Beatrice has even invited him to her apartment for coffee and bridge! That icy heart of his has begun to thaw around the edges. But the despicable Mrs. Suarez won't be stopped and the plan she dreamed up is certain to drive Ferdinand out of her complex.

Why are children in books so darned precocious? Juliette is wise beyond her years and speaks like an adult; that's hard for me to believe. Ferdinand is beyond grouchy at first and quite quickly he is sweet and caring? Hmmm...a bit of a stretch. Apparently he has always been a grump so the sudden change seems too much. It was just ok for me.