Being West is Best Book Blog Tour

I was recently asked to review a book for a book blog tour. The book is called Being West is Best, by Monique Bucheger, and it is the fourth book in the Ginnie West Adventures series.

Here's the book blurb:

Twelve-year-old BFFs, Ginnie West and Tillie Taylor, are matchmaking geniuses. Together, they maneuvered Ginnie’s widower-dad into proposing to Tillie’s divorcee-mom. Sweet! Certain they are well on their way to sisterhood, each girl is floored when Tillie’s lousy-excuse-for-a-father puts in an appearance after a six year absence. Too bad “lousy dad repellant” doesn’t come in a can. Even though Tillie’s dad has sobered up and is determined to make amends, Tillie would rather he just disappear again. If he stays, “Operation: Secret Sisters” may need to be renamed “Operation: Not Gonna Happen.” If that’s not bad enough, the biggest bully in seventh grade comes over often and wishes he could call the West’s farmhouse “home.” When the bully’s abusive dad shows up as well, Ginnie thinks it’s time to change her family’s motto from “When you’re here, you’re family” to “There’s no more room at the West’s.”

The main character is Ginnie West, but the book is also told from the point of view of her twin brother, her best friend, and her brother's friend. By doing this, Monique Bucheger shows the reader how each character is seeing the different situations.

Monique Bucheger

In my opinion, Being West is Best is good crossover book for kids who are getting a little too mature for some of the Middle-Grade books on the market, but aren't quite ready to handle the sometimes more mature themes of Young Adult books. Being West is Best tackled a theme that can be a little tough for some sensitive younger readers to handle...child abuse and the repercussions it can have on family life and friends.

No one will ever accuse Monique Bucheger of lacking individuality in her writing. One of my favorite things about Being West is Best were her funny, picture-inducing descriptions. Here are a couple of samples from the book that brought a smile to my face. (I hope Monique doesn't mind me posting quotes!)

"Sure, she was pretty in a blonde-haired, blue-eyed twelve-year-old pop star sort of way, but she was more trouble than she'd ever be worth. Kind of like a rabid cocker spaniel ... cute, but dangerous."

"Ginnie's mouth opened like a tent flap in a windstorm."

"If things didn't change soon, Ginnie would be exploding like a mouthful of Pop Rocks."

As I mentioned above, the subject matter is a serious one, but Monique does a good job of introducing it to a non-adult. If your child is a horse lover, check out this series!


You can find the book right ... HERE!