Rocky Road

Rocky Road by Rose Kent
Youth New Book Shelves - Lower Level - KENT

Twelve-year-old Tess Dobson is moving from sunny San Antonio, Texas to chilly Schenectady, New York in the dead of winter with her mom and eight-year-old brother, Jordan. She is not a happy camper, but she tries to make the best out of the situation. It seems her mother has decided that the answer to all of their troubles is a fresh start in a new town where they can open an ice cream shop. After all, "Ice cream warms the heart, no matter what the weather." Starting an ice cream business is one of Tess' mother's crazy ideas that she periodically gets before she crashes into "shooting stars." Unfortunately, Tess' mother suffers from bipolar disorder and when she has a new idea, she runs on little sleep and lots of hope. However, after awhile she will fall into a deep depression.

Once in Schenectady, Tess struggles with making friends, caring for her deaf brother, and keeping her mother in line. It is a lot for anyone to handle especially a preteen. Tess and the family move into a seniors’ housing complex and make some interesting friends: Winnie, a caring retired nurse, and Chief, a disciplined retired Navy officer. Both of these senior citizens help Tess to see the best in herself and her family. Further, Tess finds her niche at her new school by becoming a peer mediator who helps solve disputes between students. As time passes, Tess starts to feel more hopeful that maybe her mother’s crazy ice cream idea will be successful because her mother is doing such a meticulous job in planning the shop which is aptly named “A Cherry on Top.” Still how can everything be okay when your mother is sick with an illness?

Rocky Road by Rose Kent is a delightful novel that will leave you with hope and fuzzy feelings. While it does touch upon the serious issue of mental illness, it provides hope that anything is possible with the right help, love, and guidance. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys positive messages of perseverance.