Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony

Summary (courtesy of GoodReads): The year is 2041, and sixteen-year-old Molly McClure has lived a relatively quiet life on an isolated farming island in Canada, but when her family fears the worst may have happened to her grandparents in the US, Molly must brave the dangerous, chaotic world left after global economic collapse—one of massive oil shortages, rampant crime, and abandoned cities.

Molly is relieved to find her grandparents alive in their Portland suburb, but they’re financially ruined and practically starving. What should’ve been a quick trip turns into a full-fledged rescue mission. And when Molly witnesses something the local crime bosses wishes she hadn’t, Molly’s only way home may be to beat them at their own game. Luckily, there’s a handsome stranger who’s willing to help.

And here's what I thought:  Wow.  Joelle Anthony has really created a great story here, and a heroine I cheered for.  Molly is smart and tough, and she really uses her brain (not her looks, not her sexy voice, etc).  She's not perfect, but she a quick-thinker, and seems to always find something positive in difficult situations.  And, she's a musician (extra bonus points) --- her fiddle, Jewels, is a good friend -- comfort in times of stress, and a source of constant joy (and sometimes, even danger).  I loved how Joelle Anthony wove the music through the story -- it gave a little something special to not only the storyline, but also to Molly, as well.

The world Anthony has created here is one that, unfortunately, I can completely see being a possible future.  It's 2041, and the big governments have seized the oil, turning the economy completely upside down.  Molly lives on a farming island in Canada, where her family is used to growing their own food, and providing their own energy.    When she's chosen by her family to locate her grandparents, Molly sets off into a completely different world than the one she's used to.  However, some people in this world are good, and help her out -- a good thing, considering she's not used to cities, or the way their economy works.  When she finally locates her grandparents, she needs to come up with a plan right away to help them out -- and first things first: food.   Lucky for Molly, the neighbor next door has a garden that needs some help, and she also has a new friend in the neighborhood: Spill.   Spill almost seems a little good to be true, and maybe he's hiding something from Molly....  and no, I'm not telling you what it is.   Suffice to say, he's an important person to Molly, and integral to what happens in the story.

This book was a great mix of adventure and a little bit of romance thrown in.  The pacing was fast, and I really enjoyed the story -- I whipped through this in a short time because I was having so much fun reading!

Where did I get this book?  Library, naturally!