Being West is Best deals with two twelve-year-old BFFs, Ginnie West and Tillie Taylor, who previously matched up their single parents, Ginnie's dad and Tillie's mom. Now everything seems to be working out for the girls when the families get an unexpected phone-call from Tillie's ex-father, claiming he's cleaned up his act and wants to make amends. The girls worry that long-lost-dad showing up will ruin their plan to become sisters, so they fight the reunion, while the well-meaning parents, uncles, and grandparents try to help them see that there is enough room for everyone in the West family.
Being West is Best is a book full of classic 12-year-old drama and high family values while dealing with adult problems. It brought me right back to my uncertain, brace-faced youth and kept me locked in with delightful characters (Ginnie's long, lost aunt being my favorite), just enough plot twists, and a healthy serving of girl power. It took me about a day-and-a-half to read it (sticking to after kids went to bed and nursing the baby for reading time), but the story and lessons still stick with me, even having read it a month ago.
