When the book start off Dizzy is waiting in anticipation for the only contact she has with her mother all year. Her birthday present, sometimes a dream catcher other times just a post card. Either way she lives for the chance to hear from her mother “Storm” who left her and her father when she was just four years old. But this year instead of just a letter she receives the thing she’s wanted for years, her mother in person. Who not only missed her but wants her to come with her to a..well in truth it’s some hippies’ convention. Her father, knowing how erratic and unreliable Storm is, of course refuses. But early the next morning Storm informs Dizzy that her father has changed his mind during the night and they have to hurry and leave before he wakes up. So they stuff her things into a bag, say a quick goodbye to a thoroughly hung over Dad and hit the road in Storms beat up mystery mobile. The mystery being of course how such a piece of ugly junk like it can still be running. At this point in the story it’s pretty obvious to all that Storm has just kidnapped her daughter. Dizzy of course blinded by love, youth and just plain stupidity doesn’t realize it. If you think the story gets any better and any less predictable you’re wrong.
They arrive in Scotland and Dizzy feels a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of bums-I mean hippies that have come together. It’s not at all the “small gathering” that Storm had promised. But most people reading will have figured out by now that half the promises Storm makes are lies and the other half are her twisted half truths (Which are basicly the same thing). At the festival or whatever you wanna call it Dizzy meets Finn, the boy she knew as a baby back when her parents were both full time hobo’s-I mean hippies, (Can you say love interest) Mouse, the son of Storm's current soul mate Zak (can you say cute little brother figure) and Tess Finn’s mother (can you say mother figure and only semi responsible adult in the camp).
They move from festival to festival, Dizzy learning more and more about her mother's vagrant life style from Finn and Mouse who are her constant companions. Storm is telling Dizzy that her father is going to join them any day now. Which of course we all know is a lie because her father has no idea where they are. Dizzy finds out that she enjoys the fun and freedom of being a derelict-I mean hippy, but misses her father, hot showers and the stability of normal life. After having cops bring Dizzy, Finn, and Mouse back to their camp when Mouse is caught for stealing, they pack up and move to Tess’s cottage. Storm and Zak leave soon after deserting their children for India. Many pointless events lead up to Dizzy’s father being contacted. She goes home, Mouse gets adopted and Finn..well Finn just stays Finn
This book gets a five out of ten. It was somewhat annoyingly predictable, like no one knew that the postcards Dizzy gave to Storm weren’t really being sent out to her father. And the character is so naive you wish you could shake her. At one point Finn has to convince her that what her mother and others had been smoking around the fire was weed. Hippies smoking weed..oh my gosh are you serious. That is so unheard of..not. But the writing is Ok and though the story is nothing new it's still touching and amusing. And surprisingly enough I didn’t feel as if I wasted 45 minuets of my day reading this book, which I think is always a plus. I would recommend Dizzy to casual readers and girls who aren't old enough to read the Sisterhood of the traveling pants series.
--The Marvelous Niah
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