My One Hundred Adventures

Jane is 12 years old, and she is ready for adventures, to move beyond the world of her siblings and single mother and their house by the sea, and step into the “know-not what.” And, over the summer, adventures do seem to find Jane, whether it’s a thrilling ride in a hot-air balloon, the appearances of a slew of possible fathers, or a weird new friendship with a preacher and psychic wannabe. Most important, there’s Jane’s discovery of what lies at the heart of all great adventures: that it’s not what happens to you that matters, but what you learn about yourself.

Polly Horvath has a great writing style and she's a good storyteller. I also really enjoyed her book Everything on a Waffle. This story, My One Hundred Adventures, is about a young girl, Jane, who wants to experience life and prays for one hundred adventures. She only has 14 in this story, but boy does she have some interesting experiences! Some of the characters were a bit frustrating, i.e. the preacher Nellie Phipps and the crazy mother Mrs. Goard, but that is part of the adventure I guess! This is sort-of coming of age story and I felt good about the ending. Cute book!