Rocky Road

Tess and her deaf little brother, Jordan, have a very rocky life. Their mother talks and thinks Texas big, but also has Texas big financial problems! She also has Texas big "crashes" and can't get out of bed some days. Now they find themselves in Schenectady, New York. Tess can't believe not only are they living in an apartment complex for senior citizens, but her mother wants to start (of all things) an ice cream shop in one of the most run-down areas of their new city. In the middle of winter! But Tess is soon going to learn that she doesn't have to go it alone. She has her family, her new friends, her new community and, of course, the ice cream! Sweet and a little nutty (just like Tess's favorite flavor, Rocky Road) text and situations make this a great read for fans of ice cream, great stories, or those who just want a yummy good read!

Ice cream warms the heart, no matter what the weather.
That's the Dobson family motto. Whenever things get tough, they break out the special heart-shaped bowls and make sundaes. The road has been especially rocky lately for Tess and her deaf little brother, Jordan. Their plucky Texan mother talks big, but her get-rich-quick business schemes have only landed them in serious financial hot water.
Ma's newest idea is drastic. She abruptly moves the family to snowy Schenectady, New York, where she will use the last of their savings to open her dream business: an ice cream shop. (Too bad the only place she could find an apartment is in a senior citizens' complex.) Tess wants to be excited about this plan, but life in Schenectady is full of new worries. Who will buy ice cream in their shop's run-down neighborhood? What will happen when their money runs out? Worst of all is Ma herself-she's famous for her boundless energy and grandiose ideas, but only Tess and Jordan know about the dark days when she crashes and can't get out of bed. And Tess can't seem to find the right words to talk to Ma about it.
This moving story of family, community, and ice cream proves that with a little help from the people around us, life really can be sweet-and a little nutty-just like Rocky Road.

Rose Kent, a former naval officer, lives in Niskayuna, New York, just east of Schenectady, with her husband and children in a house with a dozen ice cream scoopers. She is an ardent believer in the redemptive power of a sundae.

Her first book, Kimchi & Calamari, was nominated for several state library awards. Visit her at www.rosekent.com.

Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Distributor: Random House, Inc.
Publication Date: 06-08-2010
Pages: 304
Measurements: 8.58in X 6.25in X 1.09in X .92lb