Trouble Blows West is the second book in a series of middle-school books about an 11-year-old girl Ginnie West, her twin brother Toran, and her best friend Tillie. I didn't get to join the tour for the first book The Secret Sisters Club, but I bought and read it anyway so that I could know the full backstory. I'll be reviewing the third book Simply West of Heaven and the fourth book Being West is Best next week.

You don't have to read The Secret Sisters Club before reading Trouble Blows West, because Trouble Blows West stands well all by itself. This review is supposed to be about TBB, but I'll say quickly that I enjoyed TSSC. Ginnie and Tillie are opposites in personality but love each other dearly. I enjoy the family dynamics of the West family and was glad to see a family tree at the beginning because it's a little confusing. I think my daughter would enjoy reading it if I asked her to. (She, unfortunately, is more into screens than the printed word so she might not pick it up on her own.) Oh, and I really enjoyed the photos of the girls who represent Ginnie and Tillie. That was a really nice touch! I hope that will eventually be put into all of the books in this series.

Trouble Blows West was good, too. The child abuse was handled in an appropriate way. A couple of scenes still bothered me, but that kind of thing always bothers me - whether on TV or in a book or in a play. Knowing my daughter, I think she would be bothered by it as well, so I'm not sure I would give her this book. It's just a case of you have to know your child.

Ginnie shows her hot-head personality and turns into a bit of a brat, but her dad deals with it appropriately. She and Toran do show growth through the book and that's good to see. There are some good lessons in this book and it's a good story.

Celebrate Lit gave me the opportunity to receive, read, and review Trouble Blows West. Keep reading to learn more about the book, the author, and to enter a great giveaway!

About the Book

Book: Trouble Blows West

Author: Monique Bucheger

Genre: Mid-grade, blended family, horses

Release Date: April 13, 2012

Putting her body in motion before her brain is in gear creates a mountain of problems for 12 year-old Ginnie West. She is certain that defending her twin brother, Toran, from the biggest bully in sixth grade was the right thing to do. But Ginnie couldn’t be more wrong. She quickly learns that Toran doesn’t appreciate being rescued by a girl any better than Pierce likes being knocked down by one.

When Pierce seeks revenge on Ginnie, Toran sets aside his anger and helps her plot a payback prank at Pierce’s house. Sadly, Ginnie learns that Pierce has a reason for being a bully when she sees his dad drop him to the floor like a ragdoll. Realizing he’s a boy in big trouble, Ginnie decides to be his ally, because he won’t let her be his friend.

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About the Author

When Monique isn’t writing, you can find her playing taxi driver to one or more of her 12 children, plotting her next novel, scrapbooking, or being the “Mamarazzi” at any number of child-oriented events.

Even though she realizes there will never be enough hours in any given day, Monique tries very hard to enjoy the journey that is her life. She shares it with a terrific husband, her dozen children, twelve grand-darlings, too many cats, and many real and imaginary friends. She is the author of several books in three series and hopes to write many more.

More from Monique

Hello Everybody,

I’d like to welcome you to the second book in my Ginnie West Adventure Series: Trouble Blows West. The journey to writing this book started a long time ago as a promise to my high school creative writing teacher, Mrs. Marion Joyce Johnson.

It took me longer than I planned to start the series, but has been a fun adventure.

Because Mrs. Johnson was such an inspiration to me, I made her a character in this book, Trouble Blows West to help my main character, Ginnie, nicknamed, “Trouble”, who gets into quite a pickle and needs a little help turning things around.

On page 2, Ginnie gets on the wrong side of the biggest bully in 6^th grade. Pierce Owens goes after Ginnie’s twin brother, Toran. Ginnie knocks Pierce on his rear in front of the entire cafeteria—causing a big problem for Ginnie, Toran, and Pierce.

The bigger problem though, is the reader finds out fairly quickly that Pierce is being abused at home. Ginnie and Toran don’t find out right away—but when they do, they decide to be Pierce’s ally—because Pierce won’t let them be his friend.

My real-life teacher, Mrs. Johnson, used to speak with a cockney accent on occasion. She is American born, but was stationed in the United Kingdom with her husband and two sons, one of which is Astronaut, Col. (Retired USAF) Gregory H. Johnson, who piloted the Space Shuttle Endeavor twice.

I reached out to Greg earlier this year and he graciously met me on a zoom and has called and texted with me as I have revamped Trouble Blows West, into an audiobook with my very talented narrator, Hillary Straga. We decided to have Mrs. Johnson, the character, voiced with a cockney accent to make her “pop.”

Greg, his brother, Gary, and I talked on a number of occasions as I edited this book to make the character, Mrs. Johnson, an even more authentic representation of their mother. Part of that story is told in my expanded dedication of the book to Mrs. Johnson as well as in Col. Greg Johnson’s Foreword at the beginning of the book.

Trouble Blows West explores the hard reality of child abuse in an age appropriate way. Several teachers have read this book with their classrooms and shared with me that they have had great conversations on all aspects of bullying and being bullied, as well as what to do if you suspect someone is being abused.

As a former foster mom of over 100 kids, part of the reason I write the Ginnie West series is to empower kids being abused as well as encourage kids and adults alike to know they have the power to change their own stars.

My hope is that the story presented in Trouble Blows West will spark the courage some need to let their voice be heard, to make a difference in their own life, or in the life of someone who needs some help.

And believe it or not, kindness and humor are powerful tools that make life worth living. If you have to choose between being kind or being right, choose kindness.

Laugh lots, love much, write on!

Monique Bucheger