Otherwise Known as Possum by Maria D. Laso (review)

After the recent death of Mama and Baby, eleven-year-old Possum and her father must learn to care for each other in new and unanticipated ways. Who will teach Possum to become a lady? Who will cook supper and rub Daddy’s back? Possum is up for her part of the challenge, but rumors that Daddy is courting the new Yankee schoolteacher leave the girl feeling betrayed and alone, so she sets out, through humorous, masterful and at times diabolical plotting, to keep Daddy from forgetting their greatly missed family members. Set in the Depression-era south, this book sensitively handles coping and adjusting to life after the passing of a loved one, acknowledging the importance of remembering while still moving forward. The linguistic wordplay and dialect of the region push this message forward, tying up life’s many lessons in quirky period metaphors and idioms. Readers who enjoyed Barrows’ early chapter books about Ivy and Bean will love the freedom and agency of Possum, along with her unapologetic and mischievous nature. While the story starts slowly, centered on the looming shadow of death, it quickly picks up, carrying readers on the emotional highs and lows of pre-adolescent life.