Drifting Into Books: 12 Days of Back to School ~ ~ Simply West of Heaven: A Ginnie West Adventure by Monique Bucheger (Day 4)

"Twelve-year-old BFFs are matchmaking geniuses. Sweet! Not long after they schemed to get Ginnie’s widowed dad to fall in love with Tillie’s divorced mom, Ginnie stumbled upon her late mom's journals, making life even more awesome sauce … until her dad confiscated the journals, determined to protect Ginnie from a danger he won’t name. Ginnie is counting on her future sister's help to make Dad change his mind, but Tillie's not so sure the ghost of Ginnie's mom will make a good addition to their new family tree. The girls' world gets flipped upside-down when a blast from the past shows up and makes Tillie go nutburgers. Ginnie is torn between helping her best friend and what could be the answer to her deepest wish."

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When Monique Bucheger isn’t writing, you can find her playing taxi cab driver to one or more of her 12 children, plotting her next novel, scrapbooking, or being the “Mamarazzi” at any number of child-oriented events. Even though she realizes there will never be enough hours in any given day, Monique tries very hard to enjoy the journey that is her life. She shares it with a terrific husband, her dozen children, a son-in-law, and 3 adorable grandchildren, one cat, and many real and imaginary friends. She is the author of the Ginnie West Adventure middle-grade series: The Secret Sisters Club, Trouble Blows West, & Simply West of Heaven. and Being West Is Best, a picture book: Popcorn.

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Question and Answer with the Author

1. Dream vacation? Disneyland with unlimited money to spend.

2. Something unique about you? I have 12 kids

3. What one food will you NOT eat? Onions

SNIPPET # 3:

Ginnie has very few memories of her mother—who died when she was 3 1/2—in this snippet she recalls a long-forgotten incident that happened the day of her mother’s fatal accident.

Ginnie opened a drawer and fished out a pink comb. After parting her hair, she set the comb on the sink. She felt a swish behind her. Turning quickly, she caught a flutter of curls in the mirror, but they weren’t hers.

“Gins, honey, stand still. I can’t very well make a straight part with you wiggling like a little worm, now can I?” For a moment Ginnie was three again and pulling away as Mama tried to part her hair. She heard every word Mama spoke in Mama’s soft Southern accent.

“No, Mama. Only one ponytail. Two takes too long. I wanna ride Love with you. Just one ponytail.” She jerked backward and bumped against Mama’s pregnant belly.

“Sugar, be careful. You’ll hurt the baby.” Mama took Ginnie’s chin firmly in her hand. “Be soft.”

Present-day Ginnie felt a rush of sadness and shame as young Ginnie stomped her foot. “Sorry!” Little Ginnie pulled her chin from Mama’s hand. “Just one pony.”

Mama frowned. “Be nice. You’re a big sister now. You have to be a good example.”

“I just wanna ride with you. I don’t want you to do my hair.” Young Ginnie grabbed Mama’s hand and pulled.

“In a minute. Be patient and let me finish your hair.”

“No!”

“Excuse me?” Both Ginnies shuddered when Daddy’s voice came through the doorway. He knelt in front of her at eye level. “I sure hope I didn’t just hear you sassing your mama. Sassy girls don’t get to ride horses. Sassy girls take time-outs.”

Both Ginnies blinked. Goosebumps dotted their arms.

“Todd, I’m handling it. No need to growl,” Mama chided softly and pulled young Ginnie close. “You’ll stand still and let me finish, won’t you, Gins?”

“Yes’m.” Ginnie watched her dad out of the corner of her eye. “Sorry, Mama.”

“I didn’t growl,” Daddy said in a quiet voice and stood.