This one fell just a tiny bit short for me. I think my expectations were too high. I liked the idea, but maybe not so much the sort of situations Laurel found herself in? I always get turned straight off if the main characters are smoking and sneaking alcohol without a second thought. In grade 9.

Still, it made me cry in at least one part, and you can't say a book's bad if it made you cry. And I did enjoy Ma's story,even if we only got glimpses of it.