She Got Up Off the Couch

She Got Up Off the Couch (2006) by Haven Kimmel. From the author of "A Girl Named Zippy" comes this continuation of the story of little Zippy Jarvis of Mooreland, Indiana. It is also the story of Zippy's mother, Delonda, who -- after 25 years of marriage -- gets up off the couch and goes back to school, eventually ending up with a master's degree. Kimmel's writing is superb, capturing perfectly the voice of her younger self, the rather eccentric (and hilarious) Zippy. Though she comes from extreme poverty, she seems to have ended up as a happy and well adjusted adult, with posh writing skills. This book was such an enjoyable read that I felt great regret at finishing it so fast. I just loved it. Grade: A