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(Note:  While this review will not contain spoilers for Just Call My Name, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its predecessor, I'll Be There.  As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)

With his violent, schizophrenic father behind bars, 17-year-old Sam Border can finally take a breath.  At long last, he can live the normal life he's always dreamed of.  It's a good life, too.  He's enrolled in school; dating sweet, pretty Emily Bell; and watching his autistic younger brother blossom under Emily's mother's care.  That's a Happily Ever After in Sam's book.  

Then, he meets Destiny Verbeck, a vivacious mystery girl who cashiers at a variety shop near the restaurant where Emily works.  Sam recognizes in Destiny a kindred spirit, someone who, like him, has lived a rougher life than Emily could possibly imagine.  The closer he gets to Destiny, the more distant he feels from Emily.  Sam doesn't want to lose her, but something in him refuses to believe someone as innocent and pure as Emily could really want someone like him. 

In the midst of their relationship trouble comes the last person either one of them expects to see outside a jail cell.  Clarence Border is out and looking for revenge.  Can anyone survive his deadly wrath?  Can Sam and Emily overcome all the odds stacked against them and finally be left in peace to pursue the love that keeps them glued together?  Or will they be torn apart by Clarence or Destiny or both?  

After reading (and loving) I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan, I couldn't wait to dive into its sequel, Just Call My Name.  Even though the first book wrapped up to my satisfaction, I still wanted to check in on Sam, Riddle, and Emily.  That's how deeply they were lodged in my heart!  Just Call My Name starts off pretty tame.  The conflict with Destiny feels forced and gets really irritating really fast.  I was glad when the action picked up in the second half of the novel, perking up the story significantly.   The tense, adrenaline-fueled ending definitely made up for a slower beginning.  In the end, I didn't adore Just Call My Name like I did I'll Be There, but I did enjoy it.  If you like compelling heart-tuggers that are a little outside the norm, give these two books a go.  You won't regret it.

(Readalikes:  I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan; also reminds me a bit of The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson)  

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Thanks to his erratic, nomadic father, 17-year-old Sam Border wouldn't recognize a stable family life if it alighted on the end of his nose.  He does his best to protect his odd little brother from harm, but Sam knows Rudolph ("Riddle") deserves better than their itinerant existence.  With their father always on the run from the law, the boys have never stayed in one place long enough to put down roots.  Sam longs for a normal life, one that includes school, friends, and safety for both himself and Riddle.  Especially Riddle, who's always silent, always sickly, always starving.    

When the boys manage to break away from their father, they're in even more danger than usual.  They can't attract any unwanted attention.  That plan goes awry as soon as Sam meets the The Bell Family in a small Oregon town.  He's attracted to 17-year-old Emily, not just because she's pretty, but also because she's kind.  Her close-knit family exudes the kind of warmth and love Sam and Riddle have never known.  Sam can't explain to her what the boys' life has been like—she wouldn't understand.  At all.  He keeps his secrets close to his own heart, even as he gives it, piece by broken piece, to Emily.

Just when it looks like Happily Ever After has come along to save the boys, their father, Clarence Border, returns with a vengeance.  No one is exempt from his wrath, especially not Sam and Riddle, whose betrayal Clarence will never forgive.  How will they survive—how does anyone survive—when hope has been so cruelly snatched away?

I'll Be There, Holly Goldberg Sloan's debut novel, is an unforgettable tale that stretches across genre borders.  It's a family drama, a romance, and a survival story all rolled up into one well-rounded story.  The characters come alive, the plot speeds along at a breathless clip, the prose sings with lyrical, luminous beauty—seriously, what's not to like here?  Compelling and unique, I'll Be There is a tender, touching novel that quite simply should not be missed.  In case you can't tell, I loved it.  

(Readalikes:  Just Call My Name by Holly Goldberg Sloan; also reminds me a bit of The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson)

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When things go haywire in Willow Chance's life, the 12-year-old soothes herself with numbers.  Something about counting by 7s just makes things all better.  The routine never fails—it always calms Willow, restoring order to her topsy-turvy world.  But when her adoptive parents die in a car accident, numbers can't ease her pain.  Nothing can.  The fact is, she's completely alone in the world.  No friends.  No family.  No comforting ritual to make her troubles disappear.

Willow's taken in by a Vietnamese family, a situation she knows can only be temporary.  The Nguyens are already squatting in a cramped garage with no bathroom and little ventilation.  Despite their kindness, Willow knows it's only a matter of time before she's thrown into foster care.  She can't stand the thought, but it's her only option.  Unless she can somehow convince Dell Duke, her crusty, unhelpful guidance counselor to take a chance on a strange, grieving girl.  He despises children in general, misfits in particular, so he's about the unlikeliest savior in Willow's world.  And yet, he's her only chance.  Can Willow persuade him to do the unthinkable?  Can she put the shattered pieces of her life back together again?  Or will her grief swallow her whole?

Counting by 7s (available August 29, 2013), a middle grade novel by Holly Goldberg Sloan, is a strange little story about an even stranger little girl.  Willow's a sympathetic character, of course, as any twice-orphaned child would be.  It's easy to root for her, even if her circumstances are just plain weird.  The subterfuge Willow goes through in order to evade the wrath of Child Protective Services is hardly believable, which makes the tale a little difficult to digest.  Still, Counting by 7s teaches some important lessons about triumphing over tragedy, finding hope even in your darkest hours and, mostly, about the true meaning of family.  The story's definitely a little odd, but it's also uplifting and hopeful.  I didn't love it, but it's still a decent read.  

(Readalikes:  Hm, I can't really think of anything.  You?)

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