I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I confess that I sometimes do. I picked up Swamplandia because of its quirky and beautiful cover, but I liked it because of its quirky and beautiful story. Twelve-year-old Ava Bigtree is growing up at her family’s theme park, Swamplandia, in Florida. Her father runs the park, but her mother Hilola, a famous alligator wrestler, is the star attraction. When Hilola dies of cancer, both Swamplandia and the family fall into ruins. Ava’s father and brother leave to find money to save the park, and Ava and her older sister Osceola are left alone.

When Osceola disappears into the swamp, Ava, with the help of the enigmatic Bird Man, sets out to find her.

Russell has created a book that is full of unforgettable people and places, and I look forward to reading whatever she comes up with next. ~Torrie