In this quiet and thoughtful story about what it means to be a family, eight-year-old Jenna and her mother struggle to adjust when Jenna's beloved great-aunt Britannia, or "Tannie," breaks her ankle and comes to live with them. Jenna had great fun visiting Tannie on her Mississippi farm, where Tannie tended her garden and chickens and drove a big truck and a motorcycle. But when Tannie arrives at Jenna's house in Virginia, Jenna's mother takes over and handles everything for Tannie. Without anything to do, Tannie's resentful and unhappy, and soon they're all getting on each other's nerves. Will Jenna's mother give up a little control so they can be a fun-loving family again? Children living in multigenerational families will relate to the dynamics, appreciating Jenna and Tannie's shared love of soccer and bird-watching ey'll also be charmed by Tannie's adorable cat, Butt. Marble's pencil sketches scattered throughout the book, including Jenna's handwritten list of things to do "After Tannie Comes," add warmth to the story.

After beloved and fiercely independent Great-aunt Tannie falls and breaks her ankle, eight-year-old Jenna and her mom persuade Tannie to leave Mississippi and live with them in Virginia. But it's not an easy transition: bossy (and fearful) Mom initially forbids Tannie to do anything by herself. It's a realistic multigenerational story, sweet but never saccharine, with love at its core.

Gr 1-4 At eight years old, Jenna dreams of being an Olympic soccer player. But when her Great-Aunt Tannie breaks her ankle and moves in with Jenna and her mother, things begin to change and not always for the better. Farm-girl Aunt Tannie isn't used to being treated like a fragile old lady, Grace is dealing with how to juggle taking care of her aunt and her daughter, and Jenna is learning how to adjust to being a little more independent and mature. In the end, the trio learn to control their tempers and let Tannie be the true judge of her abilities. Most importantly, they learn how to help one another and still have fun. Children will relate to this story. However, it offers up some deep, serious themes without devoting enough time to fully flesh them out. As a result, the characters are bland and not fully realized. Full-page black-and-white pencil-sketched illustrations are peppered throughout but do little to enhance the overall story. VERDICT Though the premise is charming, this title is ultimately a pass. Paige Garrison, Aurora Central Public Library, CO