In The Big Shuffle, the third book in the Hallie Palmer series, Laura Pedersen does an even better job then she did in the first two. This book is great for anyone 16 and older, but you definitely need to read the first two or this book won’t be as good!
Hallie was in the middle of a party when Bernard shows up with devastating news that her father has had a heart attack and was rushed to the emergency room. As they rush to the hospital they get there in time to find out that her father has died and her mother is in a state of shock. Hallie must push aside her own grief to take care of her eight younger siblings, with the help of her older brother Eric.
When their mom is placed in the local mental institution to rest and recover from her shock Hallie knows that she will not be returning to school to finish out her sophomore year. Eric, however, has a full ride scholarship and must go back to school or else he will lose it. Hallie is left to run the household with the help of Bernard, the pastor, and a handful of townspeople and relatives. As she struggles to see to everyone’s needs she finds herself losing weight and her social life.
When her mother finally returns home, Hallie must still do most of the work and she doesn’t think she has a chance of ever going back to college. When she and her boyfriend break up she is even more down hearted and with money problems and the stress of taking care of eight young children Hallie is on the edge.
Will Hallie be able to deal with the stress of her newfound responsibilities? Will she ever end up back at school or back with Craig? You’ll have to read it for yourself to find out!