Skies Like These

May 12, 2014
In Hilmo’s warm second novel, after With a Name Like Love, 12-year-old Jade Landers is unhappily shipped from Philadelphia to Wellington, Wyo., to spend the summer with her Aunt Elise, who runs the best (and only) “dog ranch” in town. Aunt Elise is quirky, enthusiastic about life in the great outdoors, and (despite her best efforts) a terrible cook; with her help, Jade slowly gets used to her new surroundings. Also helping is 12-year-old Roy Parker, a self-styled cowboy who believes he’s related to Butch Cassidy, and who will do anything to help his family now that his father’s hardware store has closed after the arrival of a big-box competitor. Jade whips up other schemes in hopes of distracting Roy from getting himself into serious trouble—like, say, trying to rob a bank. Writing with humor and heart, Hilmo gently reminds readers of the benefits of being shaken out of one’s routine, especially the sense of perspective gained by traveling to new places and trying new things. Ages 9–12. Agent: Steven Chudney, the Chudney Agency.

May 15, 2014
When Jade arrives in Wyoming for her summer vacation, she is in for a life-changing experience.Jade is used to quiet summer vacations in Philadelphia. But this year, her parents pack her off to Wyoming to have an adventure with eccentric Aunt Elise. That's where Jade meets Joshua Parker, a boy who thinks he's descended from Butch Cassidy (whose real name was Roy Parker, so the boy insists on being called Roy). Roy wants to replicate Butch Cassidy's Robin Hood ways by robbing a bank to help his parents regain their business. Jade is willing to help but prefers more law-abiding methods, such as hosting stargazing parties on Aunt Elise's roof. Drawing on rich Western lore and creating characters as gritty as the earth itself, Hilmo paints a picture of a town where everyone is connected. Folks old and young prove themselves able to weather the storms-both literal thunderheads and the hardships of life-while maintaining hopeful hearts as expansive as the sky. Most refreshing: Parents, caregivers and other adults in the neighborhood only appear to be leaving the children to their own devices. In reality, they keep a loose rein, respectfully giving Jade and Roy some independence in recognition that the real adventure in life is the process of becoming.A heartening, comforting story with enough tension to keep readers hooked and a subtle message that will sneak up on them. (Fiction. 8-12)

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May 1, 2014

Gr 4-7-Twelve-year-old Jade is less than thrilled to be spending the summer in Wyoming with her quirky aunt Elise, away from all of the comforts of her Philadelphia home. As soon as she arrives, though, she meets Joshua Park, who insists on being called Roy and is convinced he's related to Butch Cassidy. Roy considers himself the Robin Hood of Wellington, Wyoming, and he hatches plan after plan to steal from the rich-the owner of the new big box store-and give to the poor by rounding up enough cash for his parents to reopen their out-of-business mom-and-pop hardware store. Jade becomes his reluctant sidekick, often providing a voice of reason as Roy shares his plans, including bank robbery. She comes up with some (legal) moneymaking schemes of her own to help the cause. Despite some disappointments, the two learn a lot about themselves as the story progresses. 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.-Amanda Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, Madison, WI

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2014
Grades 4-6 In Hilmo's second middle-grade novel, a 12-year-old city girl spends a month in Wyoming and finds big skies, a boy who idolizes Butch Cassidy, and her own sense of adventure. Backed by a setting that provides both dramatic storms and spectacular scenery (Grand Teton is in the distance), Jade helps her amiable aunt with her dude ranch for dogs and a new stargazing business, but mostly she hangs out with 12-year-old Roy Parker, who is focused on reopening the hardware store his dad was forced to close. These efforts center around trying to sabotage the competition, and Hilmo conveys well the way we can get caught up in our own versions of reality, as Roy slowly figures out that his dad doesn't want to reopen the store and that he is not, in fact, related to Butch Cassidy. Most thought-provoking are Jade and Roy's arguments about doing something illegal for a good cause. But rest assured, if there's a sequel, their future big plans will likely center around climbing Grand Teton rather than robbing banks.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)