Michele Ivy Davis based her novel on the atmosphere of small-town Florida where she was born and raised. "One day," she says, "while driving through an older section of town, I saw the words Cadillac and Motel at about the same time on two different signs. I was struck by the contradictory picture they presented and wondered about the people who might own a motel like that." This is her first children's book..
The Ann Durell Fiction Contest was named for former publisher of Dutton Children's Books Ann Durell, who nurtured the talents of such beloved authors as Lloyd Alexander, Judy Blume, Eleanor Cameron, Walt Morey, and William Sleator. The Grand Prize was awarded to Michele Ivy Davis for the best unpublished novel aimed at readers 8-14 years old. Evangeline Brown and the Cadillac Motel was one of hundreds of submissions that were reviewed by Dutton's editorial staff.
However, the summer before Eddie goes into sixth grade, she and Jesse's son Farrell become good friends, partially because they have several things in common--grieving over dead mothers, having alcoholic fathers, and playing basketball. Things seem to be going a little better until the new school teacher that fall, Miss Rose, starts visiting the homes of her students. Eddie is almost ashamed for her to visit the Cadillac Motel. After Miss Rose had visited both Farrell's and Eddie's homes, the two youngsters overhear her telling the principal that she was going to call social services to get help for some of the families. Farrell had been involved with social services following his mother's death, was in several foster homes before coming to Paradise, and did not want to go back to that. So he and Eddie hatch a plan to run away to Atlanta, GA, and live with Farrell's grandmother. Will they make it, or will something happen to keep them from carrying out their scheme?
The theme of this award-winning book is how children who live with alcoholic, dysfunctional parents in poverty have many challenges to face but can also be resilient when necessary. Both the characters and the plot are well developed, and the narration flows smoothly for easy reading. Parents, especially of children on the younger end of the reading level, should know that there are some cursing and taking the Lord's name in vain, though Eddie does wince whenever she says a bad word because her dad had taught her not to "cuss." There is a definite sadness that runs throughout the book, but in the end there is a positive note of hope. One may not always approve of the choices that Eddie makes, but they are understandable given the circumstances, and there are important lessons to be learned from the fact that Eddie is able to find the help that she needs.