Being West Is Best — Monique Bucheger

Twelve-year-old BFFs, Ginnie West and Tillie Taylor, are matchmaking geniuses. Together, they maneuvered Ginnie's widower-dad into proposing to Tillie's divorcee-mom. Sweet! Certain they are well on their way to sisterhood, each girl is floored when Tillie's lousy-excuse-for-a-father puts in an appearance after a six year absence. Too bad lousy dad repellant doesn't come in a can.Even though Tillie's dad has sobered up and is determined to make amends, Tillie would rather he just disappear again. If he stays, Operation: Secret Sisters may need to be renamed Operation: Not Gonna Happen. IIf that's not bad enough, the biggest bully in seventh grade comes over often and wishes he could call the West's farmhouse home. When the bully's abusive dad shows up as well, Ginnie thinks it's time to change her family's motto from When you're here, you're family to There's no more room at the West's.