Student Review: "The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane," by Kate O'Shaughnessy

This book is about Maybelle Lane and how she travels with the most unlikely people to a singing competition. She and her mother are poor and live in Pelican Park (an RV park). Her mom gets a job opportunity and goes on a cruise and play for people. Maybelle has to stay home of course so a lady next door from them offers to take care of her. Mrs. Boggs, the next door neighbor, spend a few days together before Maybelle figures out that her father ( the guy who broke her mothers heart by leaving her) is a judge for a singing competition. Then Mrs. Boggs and a friend of a school bully Tommy, who later becomes Maybelle's best friend, go on a road trip to the singing competition. They meet and adopt a dog named Pickle and then keep traveling to Mississippi. Then she meets her dad and gets her heart broken. Later her mom and Pickle move into a small home and the next summer have another road trip! I really liked this book because I loved the characters (especially Pickle) and liked the story and would definitely read it again!

Review by Ester G.

Maybelle Lane lives in a trailer park and is alone with Mrs. Boggs, her neighbor, who is set to look after her while Maybelle's mother is away. Earlier in the car with her mom, Maybelle hears her dad's voice on the radio and wants to visit him, but her mother will not allow it. Maybelle is offered a ride to Nashville where her dad is hosting a music contest by Mrs. Boggs and she and a school bully named Tommy, who she learns to be friends with, set out with Mrs. Boggs. They have many adventures on their way, and find and adopt a dog named Pickle. Maybelle preforms for her father, and she finds out that her father left her and her mother and married someone else. Maybelle and her mother move out of their trailer and live happily together. I liked this book.

Review by Elliana G.

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