Caddy's World by Hilary McKay - ESSENTIAL

McKay, Hilary.  Caddy’s World, 265 pgs. Margaret McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster), 2012.  $16.99.   Sexual Content: G; Language: G; Violence: G.  An engaging prequel to the Casson family books (Saffy’s Angel, Indigo’s Star, Permanent Rose, Caddy Ever After, and Forever Rose).  Caddy and her three best friends, Alison, Ruby and Beth are 12 years old and things are changing.  Three of them enjoy their first boyfriend Dingbat—they share the same guy at the same time!  Caddy’s mummy Eve is expecting another baby and Caddy’s isn’t sure she’s happy about it.  She misses the time when her house was tidy and she had both of her parents before her dad Bill moved to London.  Alison doesn’t want to move and dyes her hair pink.  Ruby is too smart for her school and is offered a scholarship to a private school, but then she would have to leave her friends.  Beth doesn’t want to grow anymore.  She is now too big for her pony and her favorite boots.  She wants to stop growing so she starts a Norman diet, which means almost no food.  Eve has the baby early and the doctor’s don’t think the baby will make it.  Readers who have already read Mckay’s books will know what happens to the Fireworks Baby, but that doesn’t take away from the essential story of young girls and the difficulties of growing up and change.  Author McKay delivers another hilarious novel sure to resonate with young readers.  EL – ESSENTIAL.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.