Providence

Sixteen-year-old Becky runs away from her abusive father, eight younger siblings, and a hard life on her family’s South Carolina farm by jumping a train, where she finds an abandoned infant. Becky and “Baby Girl” land in a small town in Georgia, where Becky meets elderly shop-owner Rosie, who immediately gives Becky a job and soon takes her and the baby into her home, too. Becky’s artistic streak, work ethic, and optimism serve her well in the initially unfriendly town—she improves sales at the store and develops a crush on a handyman. But her father’s harsh and cynical words are ever-present in her mind, nosy townspeople suspect that Becky isn’t Baby Girl’s mother, and Rosie’s health fails, causing Becky to second-guess the happiness she’s found. Despite the hardships Becky faces, debut novelist Cocca offers a rosy picture of small-town life, with Becky’s personality and narration bordering on Pollyannaish. Her remarkable and constant luck comes across as unlikely and, similarly, the ending is disappointingly tidy. Ages 14–up. Agent: Karen Grencik, Red Fox Literary. (Mar.)