Review: Tinfoil Sky, Cyndi Sand-Eveland

The novel opens with Cecily urging Mel to get together her things and leave - as soon as possible. Craig, Cecily's abusive, soon-to-be ex-boyfriend, leaves the house after an argument leaving a small window of time for Cecily and Mel to leave. 

Cecily announces that they are going home to Mel's grandparents' house - something that Mel doesn't want to hope too hard is true, but imagines how wonderful it would be to finally settle somewhere. However, Cecily's grandmother refuses to accommodate them and Cecily and Mel are left living in their Pinto car and relying on the generosity of the soup kitchen. However, when Cecily is arrested and jailed for shoplifting, Mel has no choice but to live with her grandmother, who is as angry about the situation as Mel is sad. 

Mel has had no security in her life but soon finds some in her local library. She is there every day (the novel takes place during summer break) and soon, her grandmother thaws. Mel's hope for a real home begins to come true again, piece by piece, and the only thing that is needed for Cecily to be released. 

Mel is a very stoic and solid-seeming character for a twelve year old whose life has known nothing but upheaval. It's sad that she has accepted this as the way of life, "Cecily likes change", and even more so that she accepted it's the way it would always be. She's shy and unsure of her own worth until external, solid characters tell her she is important. She is supported by a good community of characters in the novel. Conflict in the novel presents itself in the chaos of her life circumstances, rather than a traditional bully or villain, but as a reader your heart aches for her no less than it would for a character facing a more traditional kind of conflict. 

Though it is narrated by a twelve year old, the frankness and straightforward nature of the writing makes it seem more mature. Description is sparing, as the focus of the writing is, if not in dialogue, more about Mel's reaction to her surroundings and those of the people with whom she interacts. It is a good balance, though, and just enough description is given of the town for the reader to fill in the rest. 

The novel itself is just about a couple of hundred pages, though it does a lot in it. It is enjoyable, saddening, and moving, and an insightful glimpse into how important it is for children to have stable homes. I would highly recommend this book.