The Country Life
One day, you are living in a tiny apartment in New York City, the next, you find yourself on
a sprawling ranch miles from the nearest neighbor. That is what happened to this author, seventeen-year-old Jules Turner, when she was in grade school. One day her mom announced they would be moving to the Lone Star State, and shortly afterwards, they did.
Jules does a good job of contrasting what life was like while she attended a private girl’s school, in New York City, a few steps away from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, to a life of getting up at the crack of dawn to feed horses, and attend to other animals on their Texas ranch. She includes some of the predicaments those animals get themselves, or Jules and her mother, into. The move even forced her to dress differently, especially her footwear. On their ranch, she has to wear special “snake boots” because of the ever-present danger of 
poisonous snakes.
After their move west, Jules’ Texas grandparents become a bigger part of her life. They bring humor, along with love and caring, in their interactions with Jules and her mom. It was heart-warming to read about their get-togethers, even if bumpy at times.
Although their neighbors are fewer and farther apart than when they lived in New York 
City, the author is astonished when their Texas neighbors rally around them with food and comfort during a tragic event. Jules remarks that the tenants of their New York apartment, who were mere steps away, would not have done that. Trying to cope with the grief and loss she feels afterward, Jules shows wisdom beyond her age when she states, “…I found that life was made up of moments, and if I could just make it through that one moment, I could face the next.” Good advice for us all, no matter our age.
There are some overriding questions that beginning forming in your mind while reading this book. The biggest of which is: where is her dad? Is he part of her life, or non-existent? There was a perfect point in the book when it could have been addressed, but it wasn’t. Despite that, this 5-star book is interesting, and it is amazing that it was written by someone so young. No doubt this is geared toward readers from middle school up, but adults will enjoy it too. A word of warning, the story at the end of the book could be something some parents might object to.
The publisher has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of That’s Not Hay in My Hair, through Zonderkidz Publishing for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
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