This is a good read dealing with some fairly heavy issues, particularly bipolar disorder and peer mediation. I did find some aspects of the story to be a stretch, however. The main character is mature well beyond her twelve years, often unbelievably so. ( )

Who moves to Schenectady, NY in the middle of winter to open an ice cream store? Leave it to Tess' mom...

Rose Kent does it again! Quirky, endearing characters enliven her well-paced plot. Well written, literary fiction!

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Wish the main character had been older than 12. Good story but hard to believe a 12 year old handled all that comes her way in this book.
Peer mediation would be a tie in to some school sites.
Good presentation of a deaf ed child and ASL. ( )

Twelve-year-old Tess Dobson is moving from sunny San Antonio, Texas to chilly Schenectady, New York in the dead of winter with her mom and eight-year-old brother, Jordan. She is not a happy camper, but she tries to make the best out of the situation. It seems her mother has decided that the answer to all of their troubles is a fresh start in a new town where they can open an ice cream shop. After all, "Ice cream warms the heart, no matter what the weather." Starting an ice cream business is one of Tess' mother's crazy ideas that she periodically gets before she crashes into "shooting stars." Unfortunately, Tess' mother suffers from bipolar disorder and when she has a new idea, she runs on little sleep and lots of hope. However, after awhile she will fall into a deep depression.

Once in Schenectady, Tess struggles with making friends, caring for her deaf brother, and keeping her mother in line. It is a lot for anyone to handle especially a preteen. Tess and the family move into a seniors’ housing complex and make some interesting friends: Winnie, a caring retired nurse, and Chief, a disciplined retired Navy officer. Both of these senior citizens help Tess to see the best in herself and her family. Further, Tess finds her niche at her new school by becoming a peer mediator who helps solve disputes between students. As time passes, Tess starts to feel more hopeful that maybe her mother’s crazy ice cream idea will be successful because her mother is doing such a meticulous job in planning the shop which is aptly named “A Cherry on Top.” Still how can everything be okay when your mother is sick with an illness?

Rocky Road by Rose Kent is a delightful novel that will leave you with hope and fuzzy feelings. While it does touch upon the serious issue of mental illness, it provides hope that anything is possible with the right help, love, and guidance. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys positive messages of perseverance. ( )

I was able to identify with Tess so much. I have a sister and niece both with bi-polar disorder. For a short time my sister and her children lived with me. One minute my sister would be fine and the next she wasn't. The roller coaster ride was horrible. I felt so sorry for Tess and Jordan as they were drug along on their mother's ride. This book showed there was hope out there. So often these kinds of stories make you feel like all is lost. When Tess's mom decides to move them to New York from Texas, Tess is afraid this is another bad idea that will take off and then one bad day all will fall apart. However, Tess learns that friends can be very powerful and all is not lost. I really enjoyed this and can't wait to put it on my shelves for my students. I know they will enjoy it as much as I did. ( )