For my listening pleasure

Saffy's Angel
by Hilary McKay

On the surface, this is the story of a hilariously eccentric family and a misfit's search to find her place in it.  Underneath, it's more.  And it works well on both levels.

Saffron is a girl of thirteen, living with older sister Cadmium, younger brother Indigo and little sister Rose.  Only they're not her real family, as she became painfully aware at age eight when she studied the color chart and found her name wasn't there.

People often describe a book or movie as "deeply satisfying." Well, this book most definitely isn't "deeply satisfying"--and I still say it's a great story. Other reviews say that it ends too quickly, but I don't agree--it makes a nice conclusion.  But like many works of great fiction, you find yourself wanting more.  I did.  In particular I wanted to see the father wake up to discover that he really wanted the family that he so happily rode away from every Sunday evening.

It's also funny enough to contend in the category for best YA humor.  Cadmium (Caddy's) driving lessons, with or without hamsters, are ticklish.