Formerly titled Colonial Madness, a mother-daughter duo take part in
a bizarre family challenge in hopes of winning a fortune in this "light,
fun read" (Booklist) that's Gilmore Girls meets The Westing
Game!
Tori Porter is best friends with her mom, and most of the time it's
awesome. Not many girls have a mom who'd take them to a graveyard for
hide-and-seek or fill the bathtub with ice cream for the world's biggest
sundae. But as much as Tori loves having fun, she sometimes wishes her
mom would act a little more her age. Like now.
Thanks to her mom's poor financial planning, they are in danger of
losing their business and their home. But an unusual opportunity arises
in the form of a bizarre contest run by an eccentric relative: Whoever
can survive two weeks in the Archibald Family's colonial manor will
inherit the property. The catch? Contestants have to live as in colonial
times: no modern conveniences, no outside help, and daily tests of their
abilities to survive challenges of the time period.
Tori thinks it's the perfect answer to their debt problems, but she and
her mom aren't the only ones interested. The other family members seem
to be much more prepared for the two weeks on the manor--and it doesn't
help that Mom doesn't seem to be taking the contest seriously. Do they
stand a chance?