Stealing Mt. Rushmore
Not everyone has a mom, and not every mom wants to be one. Daphne Kalmar’s novel is a story for real kids with real problems. Thirteen-year-old protagonist Nellie takes on the impossible task of providing stability, love, and closure for her three brothers and struggling father.
When Nellie’s mother and her record player suddenly vanish, Nellie becomes the primary caregiver for her two younger brothers. Her father, a veteran of the Korean War, disappears into his bed, leaving the children to fend for themselves. After several days in bed, he returns to work, but Nellie fears they will soon be abandoned again.
Sadly, Nellie’s fears are confirmed on a hot July day in 1974, when her father discovers his vacation fund is missing from the freezer. He saved for two years to fund a road trip from Somerville, Massachusetts, to Mount Rushmore, South Dakota. When it appears that his wife took more than her record player, he retreats again, leaving Nellie to figure out the next move.
Nellie decides the family trip is the only thing that will hold them together. She resolves to earn $500 by August. What follows is a bittersweet tale of four children doing their best to navigate the wreckage of their parents’ marriage. Highly recommended for middle grades and up or anyone interested in real struggle and real hope.
