Ivy's Review
The Dollar Kids by Jennifer Richard Jacobsen and illustrated by Ryan Andrews follows Lowen Grover as he navigates his feelings about moving to a new town to a house that costs a dollar and his friend, Abe's, recent death. Lowen is an artist. But after Abe is shot in a random shooting at Georgio's, he gives up drawing. But eventually, he begins to draw "Abe Comics" about what happened to Abe after his death as a way to cope. Then one day, he sees an article in the newspaper about houses in a struggling town desperate for people that are selling for one dollar. His family applies and is accepted and given their dream house...that has a funeral home next to it. Of course no one else wanted it! To keep their new home, the Grovers have to fix it up and succeed in town. But there are many complications. For starters, Lowen's mom's pasty shop isn't as useful as they hoped and Lowen's dad is keeping the family afloat in their old city. As Lowen and his family begin to love Millville, they become determined, against all odds, to keep their home and succeed in Millville.
The Dollar Kids got a 3 out of 5 because in the first half or so, it's really slow, and you really have to to stick with it. I love that there are a few chapters of the story in comic form; it's a lot more interesting that way. I like Lowen's character arc, like how he goes from pushing people away from him, traumatized by Abe's death, to making two close friends and being more social. However, it didn't have that spark and the author added a couple things that I don't think are necessary. And then the ending was like the ending of most Ancient Greek plays. Some god comes from a machine and does something that makes everything great. While that exact thing didn't happen, the ending felt rushed and forced. It isn't bad, but it's not good either. It's in the middle.
If you like slower-paced realistic fiction books where fights all odds to make a new life, you'll like this book. I do love the cover, though. That, and my friend recommending it to me, is what made me pick it up.