The orange smell permeates the room as the pages turn. Set in the citrus growing area of Florida in the 1960s, ROOSTER tells the story of a boy named Carlos and a girl named Kady. Carlos is a boy semi-obsessed with chickens, hence the nickname Rooster. Kady is Rooster's madrina (godmother), even though she is a mere two years older than him. This year Kady is entering high school --- and we all know what that means: She wants Rooster to get out of her face, and he seems to be even more clingy. Just when Kady thinks all hope is lost, she meets Jon, who's everything she's hoped for --- cute, rich and exactly what she needs to escape Rooster.

Sick of her family, her house, and just about everything else, Kady can't wait to go to high school. Having fallen in love with Jon and the life that he gives her, she can't be bothered with chores and whatnot. But what happens when Kady gets too involved and starts thinking only of herself? As she spirals into a world of lavish overabundance, she forgets how much she really cares about Rooster...

In ROOSTER, Beth Nixon Weaver shows just how hard citrus farming is. More importantly, though, is the relationship between neighbors. Rooster must face the facts --- he cannot always depend on Kady, he must look to himself for support. Kady can no longer be "O Mighty Protector of the Chickens."

Nixon Weaver's book is revealing and startling all at once. I began reading it with a snob's mentality. Why would I want to read this book about farming oranges? I don't even like oranges. But I gave it a try, and so should you. Just as Kady learned, there are some things that are important, no matter who they are, how they act, or what they're about.

   --- Reviewed by Lisa Marx

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