The Fortunes of Indigo Skye

Caletti, Deb. The Fortunes of Indigo Skye. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2008.

Indigo Skye is content with her life. She's about to graduate high school, she has a great boyfriend, and she honestly enjoys being a waitress. Life is good, simple. Until the day Indigo gives advice to one of her customers. She recommends that he change his life if he's not happy with it. Good advice to be sure. Her advice bears fruit that she never dreamed of. The guy gives her two and a half million dollars. Yeah, you read right--millions. Indigo's first instinct is to give the money back. With her dad's help, she tracks him down and they discuss his gift. He truly wants her to have the money. He gives her some advice: "Let it make you bigger, not smaller" (158).

Indigo wants to give her family luxuries. Her mom refuses. Her boyfriend wants Indigo to help fix up his car and fund his ideas. Everyone seems to want something from Indigo, even if they don't want money. Her boss resents her for having the money. One day, Indigo's had enough. She quits her job and goes with a friend to California. Being rich isn't all it's cracked up to be. She let the money make her smaller, but she can change that Indigo makes plans for her money and won't let anyone stand in her way. She helps her family and friends. Indigo is bigger than the money. She knows that now.

What I thought: This book was a good read, if a bit long (2 pages shy of 300). At times I felt like the book was never going to end. The book reminded me of a couple of things. The movie It Could Happen to You and Joan Bauer's Hope was Here. The movie heroine gets a big tip like Indigo. Both Hope and Indigo are waitresses. Indigo is a great character and a universal truth underlies the book: Money can't buy happiness. But Indigo finds that it can be used to improve lives.