Skies Like These

In Hilmo’s warm second novel, after With a Name Like Love, 12-year-old Jade Landers is unhappily shipped from Philadelphia to Wellington, Wyo., to spend the summer with her Aunt Elise, who runs the best (and only) “dog ranch” in town. Aunt Elise is quirky, enthusiastic about life in the great outdoors, and (despite her best efforts) a terrible cook; with her help, Jade slowly gets used to her new surroundings. Also helping is 12-year-old Roy Parker, a self-styled cowboy who believes he’s related to Butch Cassidy, and who will do anything to help his family now that his father’s hardware store has closed after the arrival of a big-box competitor. Jade whips up other schemes in hopes of distracting Roy from getting himself into serious trouble—like, say, trying to rob a bank. Writing with humor and heart, Hilmo gently reminds readers of the benefits of being shaken out of one’s routine, especially the sense of perspective gained by traveling to new places and trying new things. Ages 9–12. Agent: Steven Chudney, the Chudney Agency. (July)