Three Times Lucky (YA)

Book #89 Read in 2013
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage (YA)

Mo was found as a baby in the water during a hurricane by the Colonel.  She was taken in by him and Miss Lana and raised as their own.  They own a café in a small town and Mo is wise beyond her years.  When a murder happens, Mo and her friend Dale decide to do their own investigation.  The stakes are raised even higher when the Colonel and Miss Lana are involved as well.

Mo reminded me of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird.  She was a great character--intelligent, gutsy and a little crusty around the edges.  This book read to me like it was set in the 1960s so when George Clooney was referred to early on in the book, I was a bit thrown.  I enjoyed the writing style of this book...great characters, good mystery, some gritty issues mixed in with humor and a town that was truly connected.