A review by shelleys_book_nook
Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

You are fourteen and a girl and have no rights. Tough luck.

I loved Sandra Dallas’ book Where Coyotes Howl and Tough Luck didn’t disappoint. I love the female lead in this one. Let me introduce you to 14-year-old Haidie Richards. After her mom dies Haidie’s older brother sells the farm and puts Haidie and her younger brother, Boots in an orphanage. Well, Haidie is having none of that so she and Boots escape to go west to look for their dad in Denver. She cuts her hair, dons some trousers and decides to be a boy so that she can be allowed to help with the oxen in mules. Haidie is resilient and strong in both body and mind. She was such a wonderful caretaker of her brother Boots, the animals in her care and even the other travellers in her group. She had such courage and belief in herself when trying to find her father.

This is a short book that packs a punch with very long chapters yet they didn’t feel long while I was reading them. This was such a beautifully heartbreaking story and the characters felt like real people I’d like to meet. I came to appreciate how hard it must have been to live through that time period and Dallas always does that with her books. I love the way the plot unfolded and how well the story flowed and the ending left me feeling satisfied.