Somebody Everybody Listens To

Somebody Everybody Listens To
By Suzanne Supplee
Dutton Books, 2010. 245 pgs. Young Adult

Retta Lee Jones has just completed high school and now has to decide if she'll try to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming a country singer. With family issues and limited funds, she isn't sure she should try, but with some nudging from a supportive best friend, Retta sets out for Nashville. With no place to live--and no money after she's mugged--Retta's odds don't seem very good. But with some great new friends and some hard work, Retta's luck might be about to change.

This book is thoroughly delightful. I loved the southern charm and the country music references (each chapter begins with a profile of a country star and shares a title with one that star's hit songs), but what I enjoyed most were Retta and her supporting cast. While the focus is on Retta and her dreams, the side stories about love and kindness really made the book a rich look at life.

AE