Zip

July 23, 2012
Rollins debuts with a clever, all-American retelling of Homer’s Odyssey, with 11-year-old Lyssa Lee in the role of Ulysses. After Lyssa’s mother died, Lyssa moved from Austin, Tex., to Washington State with her stepfather, Michael. But Michael can’t replace her mother, Ana Lee, a talented performer who made every day an adventure. When Lyssa mysteriously discovers a paper airplane bearing the message that her childhood home will be demolished, she travels to Texas via her scooter, Zip, to save the house and the memory of Ana Lee. Along the way, Rollins recasts the travails Ulysses faced in novel ways: the Lotus-Eaters become the reality TV–obsessed Lotus Crew, sirens sing at a burlesque club—and beware the hot tub at the Motel Charybdis. Rollins’s story moves at a fast clip, yet the numerous characters she introduces are well-drawn, from caring but awkward Michael to Penn (née Penelope), Lyssa’s acrobatic best friend in Austin. Slapstick humor and a sense of magic help maintain this affecting story’s levity as Lyssa learns to overcome her fears and accept change. Ages 8–12. Agent: Stephen Barbara, Foundry Literary + Media.

December 1, 2012

Gr 4-7-Lyssa can hardly say the words to acknowledge that her mother has died, and, with her death, the magic is gone. Her mom, a talented singer, let magic "float through her life like a breeze." She was imaginative and told Lyssa that she would have grand adventures. When Lyssa learns that her mom's former home is scheduled to be demolished, she knows she must return to Austin, Texas, to do whatever she can to save it from destruction. She leaves Washington and the home she shares with Michael, her stepfather, and sets off on her quest with little more than the $13 she has in her backpack. Her journey is both realistic and fanciful as she encounters a wide range of colorful characters. Zip, her trusted scooter, is her constant companion, but she hears her mother's voice encouraging and comforting her on her adventure. A sandwich reminds her of the perfect sandwiches Michael made for her and she realizes that she's starting to miss him and some of their shared experiences. Lyssa wants to find her own voice, just like her mother, and her journey helps her appreciate Michael and her new home. This is a clever novel with a bright and spunky heroine. Readers will root for her and empathize with her search to find her place in the world.-Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego

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