{Synopsis} –Book 1 in the Heller Park Series focuses on Ellie Stanton. An imperfect, unremarkable girl makes a hero’s journey. Ellie Stanton needed to have a good day. The universe had something else in store. Getting caught shoplifting. Check. Dumping her lame boyfriend. Check. Expulsion from school. Check. Getting kicked out of her house and then stealing her mother’s car while she’s in a New Jersey turnpike rest stop Cinnabon? Check. The only sensible option is to run as fast as she can and never look back. Now Ellie is running going cross country to raise a little hell and maybe along the way learn everything she needs to know about life.
{My Thoughts} – Ellie is an interesting character. I found her remarkably easy to relate to since I was a high strong rebellious kind of teenager myself. I didn’t get along with my parentals any better then she seemed to be able to get along with hers. I enjoyed every part of the book that let me into her mind more and more as time had went on. I enjoyed learning that she liked similar shows as I did when I was a teen and also liked knowing that I wasn’t alone in the desire to find something more out there for myself, something more then I already had.
Ellie doesn’t really know her father and barely communicates with her mother. She managed to gain a sort of surrogate mother through Hilary and that is the person she always turns to for guidance no matter the issue. Hilary is understanding, she can be both serious and not at the same time and she has an easy going personality. She is everything any teenager would honestly be looking for in a mother like figure.
I truly enjoyed this book however, I did have to put a warning on it due to poor language. I am aware that most teenagers in modern day speak in many more swear words then I had run across in this book, I’m just not particularly fond of them.
I would have to say the things I love most about this book are Ellie and Hilary’s bond, the 7th Heaven and Doctor Who references and the fact that it was entirely easy to relate to. I think this is a book that anyone could read and relate to that had had or is having a rough time dealing with their parent figures and or the timeless issues with high school.
Final Conclusion: 5 Star Rating.
