Defining Dulcie

Following the accidental death of her father, Dulcie's  mom decides that a move to California, along with a good dose of re-invention, is just what's needed. But Dulcie doesn’t think she needs reinventing. Dulcie's solution? She steals her dead dad’s Chevy pickup truck and heads back home. There, under the supervision of a larger than life grandfather, she meets Roxanne Soule, a girl whose scary home life makes Dulcie realize that her own situation might not be so bad. And luckily for Roxanne, Dulcie Morrigan Jones is a girl with a storehouse of strength and a generosity of spirit that stretches on for miles.

★ "[A]n inextricable mix of sadness and humor, sorrow and hope, are the hallmark of this memorable first novel..."—School Library Journal (starred review)

★ "A carefully crafted, impressive debut."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

★ “Dulcie's deadpan wit, thequirky road-trip premise, and a cast of appealing adult and teen characters combine in this unusually strong first novel…”—Booklist (starred review)

★ "[A] delightful book... as deep or as easy as the reader desires"—KLIATT (starred review)

"Acampora's work strikes a perfect balance between the serious and the comical."—VOYA (5Q 5P)

"Acampora is one to watch."—Kirkus Reviews