Ben and the Sudden Too-Big Family

Ben and his dad have lived alone ever since Ben's mother died in an accident when he was a baby. Ben's life is good--quiet, comfortable, and predictable. However, when he and his dad stop at a new bread store that opens in town, Ben's life changes forever. Ben's dad falls in love with one of the owners of the bread store, Casey, and marries her soon after (with Ben's permission of course). Ben likes Casey, though, and doesn't mind her moving in and sharing her with his dad. Life is still all right. Little does Ben know, his life is still going to change! Casey has always wanted to adopt a baby girl from China, and marrying Ben's dad hasn't changed that desire. When both Ben's dad and Casey tell him that they have been selected as parents for a Chinese baby girl, Ben is surprised, thinking that the whole adoption process was something that was going to happen a long time in the future. Before he knows it, little Maudie Mingmei is a part of their family. Although he faces all of these huge life changes in less than a year and a half's time, Ben is happier than ever with his new family. Ben is an intelligent, funny character the reader will immediately like. Casey's gigantic extended family is enough to make anyone duck and hide, but Ben tries his best to face the situations in which he's placed. He learns how important family really is to him.

It's always been Ben and his father - until they meet Casey and Casey decides to marry his dad. A baby is adopted from China - and pretty soon there's a huge family building. Ben's transition to this large family drives BEN AND THE SUDDEN TOO-BIG FAMILY and makes for a moving, fun story of a boy's ability to adjust. Middle school readers, especially, will find it involving.