For a child navigating big changes, this story explores adapting to a new, conventional lifestyle and questioning family values, while finding your own sense of self.
When would a parent reach for this book? For a child grappling with a big move, feeling like an outsider, or navigating the complicated emotions of having an unreliable or absent parent. Tallahassee Higgins has always adored the adventurous, free wheeling life she shares with her mother. But when her mom leaves to pursue a Hollywood dream, Tallahassee is sent to live with her uncle's very conventional family. This sudden shift forces her to question everything she thought she knew about family, love, and her own identity. This book gently explores feelings of abandonment and the difficult process of seeing a parent's flaws, making it a valuable tool for normalizing complex family dynamics and starting important conversations with 8 to 12 year olds.
The core sensitive topic is emotional neglect and parental unreliability, though it is not explicitly labeled as such. The narrative directly explores Talley's growing disillusionment with her beloved but self-centered mother. The approach is secular and focuses on Talley's internal emotional experience. The resolution is realistic and hopeful: there is no perfect family reunion, but Talley finds stability, a new sense of belonging, and a more mature understanding of her mother.
Ideal Reader
A child aged 9-12 who feels like an outsider, whether due to a move, a non-traditional family, or simply a feeling of being different. It is particularly resonant for a child dealing with a physically or emotionally inconsistent parent, as it validates the complex experience of loving a parent while also being hurt by their actions.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold, but parents should be ready to discuss the mother's character. Liz is portrayed with nuance: she loves her daughter but is ultimately selfish. A post-reading conversation about how a parent's love and a parent's reliability can be two different things would be beneficial. The focus is on parental fallibility, which can be a complex topic. The parent has heard their child say things like, "Why can't our family be normal?" or expresses frustration and sadness about a parent's absence or choices. The child may be feeling embarrassed by their family circumstances or struggling to connect with peers because of them.
Age Experience
A younger reader (8-9) will likely connect most with the "new kid in town" plot, the culture shock, and Talley's quirky personality. An older reader (10-12) will better grasp the deeper emotional themes: the painful disillusionment with a parent, the moral ambiguity of Liz's choices, and the complex process of forging an independent identity.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many stories about moving, this book's central conflict is internal. It's less about adjusting to a new place and more about deconstructing an identity that was entirely wrapped up in a parent. The nuanced critique of the "cool, free-spirit" parent from the child's perspective provides a unique and powerful look at the need for stability.
Read plot summary
Twelve-year-old Tallahassee (Talley) Higgins lives a nomadic, bohemian life with her single mother, Liz. When Liz decides to move to Los Angeles to become an actress, she sends Talley to live with her straitlaced brother, his wife, and their daughter in a stable Maryland suburb. Talley struggles to fit in with the new rules, new school, and conventional lifestyle. As she makes friends and builds a new life, she begins to see her mother's choices in a new, more critical light, forcing her to redefine her sense of self and family.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Talley's mom, Liz, believes in freedom and adventure, while her Uncle Dan believes in rules and stability. Are either of their lifestyles completely right or wrong? Can a family have a little of both?
2
When Talley gets postcards from her mom, she feels both happy to hear from her and angry that she left. Why is it possible to feel two opposite emotions at the same time about someone you love?
3
Talley's new friend, Leigh, is also dealing with family problems at home. How did their friendship help both of them feel less alone in their situations?
4
By the end of the book, Talley has changed a lot, from her clothes to her feelings about her mother. What do you think is the biggest, most important change she goes through?
