“‘I don’t even like eggs,’ David said.”

From Jerry Spinelli’s Eggs.

Despite his protests, nine-year-old David has found himself forced into participating in an Easter egg hunt… all thanks to his dad and grandmother.  Ever since his mom died last April, David’s whole life has been a mess.  However, when he wanders too far at the egg hunt, David meets the very unique Primrose, who he thinks is dead as she lays in a pile of leaves.  As David strictly obeys every rule (except his grandmother’s) in life, he is left wondering about the girl until he sees her again at the public library months later.  Thirteen-year-old Primrose is desperate to make a nice home for herself in the old broken-down van she has recently claimed as her room while her fortuneteller mother lives in the tiny house next to the van.  David goes to Primrose’s house and the little boy and teen girl form an unlikely and unique friendship.  It’s a benefit for both of them since David refuses to make friends in this new town and Primrose’s van is constantly egged by bullies.  David soon finds himself sneaking out almost every night to go trash-picking or walking with Primrose, despite her joking and occasional mocking of him.  When not roaming the town’s 24-hour businesses the duo often visit Primrose’s fix-it-all neighbor Refrigerator John.  After a particularly nasty fight about Primrose’s long-gone father and David’s dead mother, the two drift apart, but when Primrose resurfaces and suggests taking a walk together, it will change their lives forever.

Spinelli’s story is unique and memorable to say the least.  Even though the two main characters are grieving, the way they come off will be annoying for most readers, as the children both come off lacking discipline and self-control.  Eggs is an quick read that will stick with readers long after the book is finished.