Miles From Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams

"Thirteen-year-old Lacey wakes to a beautiful summer morning excited to begin her new job at the library, just as her mother is supposed to start work at the grocery store. Lacey hopes that her mother's ghosts have finally been laid to rest; after all, she seems so much better these days, and they really do need the money. But as the hours tick by and memories come flooding back, a day full of hope spins terrifyingly out of control...."-GoodReads

Hardcover, 197 pages

Expected publication: March 15th 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin

Source: ARC (Thank you, Sarah!)


After taking care of her mother by herself for years, Lacey needs a break. So she gets her mom a job at the local grocery store and she gets a volunteer job at the library for the summer. Lacey will finally get to do something for herself outside of the house, away from the responsibility of taking care of her mom.
When Lacey wakes up to help her mom get ready for work it seems like the perfect day. Sun is shining, birds are singing, and nothing can break her good mood. At least that is what she thought.

Have you ever had one of those days where you wake up and tell yourself everything about that day is going to be great? That no matter what gets thrown your way you will be able to take it and concur it? And it starts off just the way you planned it to go, but then one thing happens and everything good about that day just unravels and nothing can stop it.
Well that is Lacey's day....times by about 1000.
This is a pretty incredible story that takes place over the time span of only one day. But it is this one day that changes a girl's life forever.

Since it does only take place over one day you never get the full back story of Lacey and her mother's lives before this day. There are flashbacks that Lacey has throughout the book that explain a lot, but not all, which I didn't mind.
Lacey is only 13 but such a mature character. I felt connected with and rooted for her from the beginning. When her day started going down hill I was sad for her, and by the end I was terrified for her.

I did not think this book would take the turn that it did. Especially since it was so little. I was truly surprised that a book of only 197 pages could hold so much emotion and pack such a punch, but it did. Even days after reading it I am still digesting the ending as it was pretty horrific. It made me very thankful that my life is not Lacey's and that my mother is who she is.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, altered my opinion of the story or my review.