Plot Summary:  Elizabeth is determined to be a good wife and mother.  She doesn’t love her new husband, but she is grateful to him until she starts to uncover details about his past dealings with her father.  Her sister, Diana is determined to forget all about Henry, but all the adventure in all the exotic places in the world may not be enough.  Their former ladies’ maid, Carolina continues to rise through society but hiding her past may cost her the one thing she wants most.

Critical Analysis:  I have read and enjoyed all four of the Luxe novels.  Matter of fact, the very first book I reviewed here was the first one, Luxe. I still feel that what Godbersen does so well is combine an interesting soap opera kind of story with a real look at what is really proper behavior and the difference between the classes, especially in the character of Carolina, who was in the lower class but moves to the upper class when she inherits some money.  She learns the hard way that money can buy you friends but not love or respect.  A similar example can be seen in Diana who refuses to conform to what is expected of a lady of her stature.

The best thing for me about this last book is how satisfying it was.  Everyone gets what they deserve in the end, according to how they have behaved throughout the series.  I would say more, but I don’t want to spoil it.  On a personal note, thank you Ms. Godbersen for setting story and character arcs and sticking to them, resisting the temptation to extend the series to more volumes.  Sometimes it is best to leave the reader wanting more.

Readalikes:  As with the first Luxe novel, I am reminded of The Gilded Age by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley.  Not his most well known work, but I think this series is the perfect opening to introduce it to teens and others, and also that it might make a great English or History reading, as the title is where the name for the time period came from.

Review Excerpts: “Readers of this series will not be disappointed with this final installment. It would be best to start with the first book and enjoy each title in order.”–Children’s Literature

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Banks, Lynne Reid. (1980).  The Indian in the Cupboard.  New York: HarperCollins.  ISBN: 9780385170512 (hc) 9780380600120 (pb)

This was another reread for me, very hard for me to do so.  I found the whole book to be extremely paternalistic and completely disrespectful of Native peoples.  I hadn’t understood this when I read the book as a child.

What changed?  Let me explain…I received two degrees from the University of Oklahoma, a B.A. in English and a Masters in Library and Information Studies.  While a student, I took a class on the portrayal of Native American peoples by non-Native writers.  I recall reading the diaries of Christopher Columbus, The Last of the Mohicans, and I Heard the Owl Call My Name.  Dr. Geary Hobson really impressed upon us how much these writings reflected the culture and society of the times in which they were written.  None of them had much to do with true Native culture and experiences, although of the batch, I Heard the Owl…was the least offensive.

Later in library school, I learned something I hold to be true to this day–what happens outside of class is as important if not more so than what happens in class.  I don’t recall the exact details of the conversation, but one day found myself talking with Dr. Lotsee Patterson about this very book, The Indian in the Cupboard.  I believe that even after all my study of criticism, critique and reading, I was on the side of, oh it is just a story, nothing really harmful there.  What Dr. Patterson said to me changed my understanding instantly and forever.  No one would have written, much less published a book called The China Man in the Cupboard. It might have been around the same time that I heard Native author Joseph Bruchac speak, and he addressed a question that people ask him all the time:  Can they tell his stories?  His answer was yes, but you should consider telling your own stories first.

So what am I saying?  Don’t buy this book for your library, your classroom, your child, grandchild.  Is that a strong statement to make?  Why would I, who stands for access and freedom of ideas suggest this?  Because most children will not live, work, and study with Native Americans.  This book, the portrayal of this Indian could become for them their understanding of Native peoples. Instead, look to sites like Oyate and American Indians in Children’s Literature to help you select the best books that portray Native lives and history honestly and respectfully.

If you must buy this book, or if a child in your life reads this title, then read it with them, encourage critical reading.  Have them read other books, like the ones listed here.  I leave you with this quote from Drs. Lotsee Patterson and Rhonda Harris Taylor:

“There is no way any student can be protected from all stereotypical depictions. These images are too pervasive to be totally avoided – that’s the bad news. The good news… is that a critical thinking skills model of instruction, coupled with resources carrying the authentic voices of Native Americans, can inoculate students against becoming victimized by rhetoric, assumptions or visual images.”*

*Taylor, Rhonda Harris and Lotsee Patterson.  “Getting the ‘Indian’ Out of the Cupboard:  Using Information Literacy to Promote Critical Thinking.”  Teacher Librarian, vol. 28, no. 2, December 2000, pages 9-14.

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Heidi It knows little about herself or her family at the beginning of Sarah Weeks’ novel So B. It.  Heidi narrates the story herself, and the plot of the novel revolves around the important discoveries that she makes about her life at the age of twelve.  As the story is told in first-person narrative, the book’s main character, Heidi, can be examined from three perspectives – what she says about herself, what others say about her, and what her actions say about her character.

The story begins with Heidi explaining her logic about truth.  “The truth is, whether you know something or not doesn’t change what was” (Weeks 4).  Heidi begins to describe her life, which is unique and mysterious, even to herself.  She lives with her mother in a tiny apartment in Reno, NV, and is, for the most part, cared for by their next-door neighbor, Bernadette.  Heidi explains to the reader that her mother is mentally disabled and cannot work, read, or write.  Heidi also describes Bernadette’s character in detail, but within the young girl’s descriptions, she also inserts telling descriptions of herself.  For instance, Bernie –as Heidi calls her – is often amazed at Heidi’s streak of luck, and doesn’t disapprove of sending Heidi to gamble.  Heidi says, “One place my luck came in very handy was at the Sudsy Duds Laundromat on the corner” (Weeks 16).  Most of the people who meet and know Heidi try to pinpoint how or why she is lucky, but Heidi states that she believes her luck began when Bernie began to take care of her and her mother.

Another way in which Heidi describes herself is when she tells the reader about her relationship with the older neighbor kid, Zander.  Heidi says that she knows that Zander lies when he tells Heidi long-winded stories.  She says, “I was no dummy – I knew Zander was lying like a rug, but I didn’t want him to stop. I was fascinated by his fibbing” (Weeks 29).  Later in the novel, after Heidi spins a false tale about her life to a lady on a bus, Heidi makes a list of things she knows about lying.  Heidi is introspective, and she understands her own quest to understand herself.  She wants to know what compels people to lie, and more specifically, what compels her to lie.  Heidi reasons that people lie when the truth is too hard to admit, and throughout most of the book she emphasizes the importance of always telling the truth.  However, in the few lies that Heidi does tell other people, she is able to realize the motivation for her lies and attempt to understand the truth for herself.

Bernadette is the character who says the most about Heidi, because Bernie has helped raise her from birth.  Bernie often makes comments about Heidi’s streak of luck, and her incessantly curious nature. When Heidi begins to ask questions about her history, Bernie insists that Heidi shouldn’t worry about what she doesn’t know, and instead be grateful for what she does know.  However, Heidi – and the reader – get the sense that Bernie herself doesn’t have the answers, which is why she tries to discourage Heidi from seeking them.  During a pivotal scene in the novel, Heidi defies Bernie by stating that she is definitely going to New York by herself to seek answers about her history.  Bernie responds by saying, “We both know I can’t stop you, don’t we Heidi-Ho?” (Weeks 91).  Bernadette understands that Heidi is head-strong, stubborn, and resolved to satisfy her curiosity.  In addition, the reader gains a sense of how independent Heidi is as a result of her lack of foundation in a typical family.

Heidi’s actions throughout the novel are probably the most indicative of her character, which seems to be the intentional design of the author, Sarah Weeks.  The book focuses on the concept of truth, and through Heidi, the reader discovers that truth is intangible.  Truth is not necessarily visible in the words people say, but we get closer to seeing it in the things people do.  In the novel, Heidi feels compelled to discover the truth about where she came from, and to what family she belongs.  She knew she could earn money for a bus ticket by playing slots, so she acquired the ticket, lied and then admitted her plans to Bernie, and set off on her journey.  After arriving at her destination, Heidi wavers in fear of being lost, broke, and she wonders if she made a mistake in pursuing the truth.  “Nothing’s happened. I’m here, Bernie. I’m in Liberty. But it’s not how I thought it would be. It’s all different” (Weeks 148).  It’s easy to relate to Heidi at that moment, because many other people have felt the burden of trying to make a decision or whether or not to keep going on a path.  She chooses to keep pursuing her goal as planned, and her stall only lasts for a few minutes.  From this, the reader can begin to trust Heidi and know that the secrets will be revealed as soon as Heidi discovers them.  When she does eventually get to find out the facts about her family, the reader can feel some of Heidi’s emotions dealing with maturity. “It was as if the world suddenly had the volume turned down.”  In the context of that chapter, the reader can feel the weight of truth and sorrow in Heidi, and from there, the hope that happiness can once again be found.

Bibliography:
Godbersen, Anna. 2007. The Luxe. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN: 9780061345661.

Plot Summary:
The Holland sisters are old money in 1890s New York. But since their father died, their financial circumstances have run into problems. Beautiful and prim Elizabeth agrees to marry Henry Schoonmaker to save her family, although she loves someone else. Her fake best friend and noveau riche Penelope Hayes vows revenge because she wanted Henry for herself, and her bohemian sister Diana despairs because she realizes that Henry loves her and she loves him in return.

Critical Analysis:
This debut novel has been compared to the popular series Gossip Girl, complete with a blurb from the author. I have to admit that I was especially drawn in by the cover. I don’t know how many displays I saw of this in various bookstores, but I just managed to resist buying a copy.

For me, this is more than just a Gossip Girl dressed up in historical clothing. The descriptions of what life was like, the layers of proper behavior and decorum, the contrast between the lives of the haves and the have nots really make this a notch or two better in my opinion. I may be a little bit biased, having studied this period in American History in depth as an undergrad. (I skimmed the entire run of The New York Times for the year 1896…) But there is no doubt that teen-age girls will read for the backstabbing, the intrigue, and hints of scandal. Also, while there is drinking and implied sex, I would say this is a little less explicit than Gossip Girl as well.

Review Excerpts:
Publisher’s Weekly: “The dialogue has its clunky moments, and the plot twist that drives the tale is telegraphed from the very start, but readers caught up in the fancy dress intrigue are unlikely to mind much: it’s all part of the dishy fun.” – Copyright 2007 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Kirkus Reviews: “A delicious new twist along the Gossip Girl vein, readers will clamor for this sharp, smart drama of friends, lovers, lies and betrayal.”

Connections:

• Pair this with one of the classic novels by Edith Wharton (or movies based on them.)
• For a satirical look at the same time period, see The Gilded Age by Mark Twain.

Bibliography:

Plot Summary:
Matteo Alacran is definitely not like other kids.  He spends the first part of his childhood hidden away and cared for by a housekeeper named Celia.  Once he is discovered by children from the “Big House”, he spends the next few years living lavishly and doted on because he is the mirror of El Patron, the most powerful man in the country.  Matt’s life is full of ups and downs, but his true human spirit shines when he is tested inside and outside of his home country. 

Critical Analysis:
In House of the Scorpion Nancy Farmer tells a science fiction tale that transcends time and place.  The setting is the futuristic border country of Opium or “Dreamland”, which physically divides the United States and Aztlan (Mexico).  Farmer incorporates a lot of imagery in native plants, animals, and other geographic descriptions.  The futuristic, fictional elements, such as hovercrafts, cloning, and implants are intentionally woven in between descriptions of commonplace non-fictional elements, such as farming and slave labor. 

The story delves into the concept of cloning and the implications that kind of science would have on a culture.  Matt has to deal with the rollercoaster of emotions when he finds out that he is a clone and then subsequently realizes his fate in regards to El Patron.  Matt just wants to be a normal kid, but at the same time he is firmly accepting of his irreversable fortune.  A common motif in young adult literature comes up in this book – Matt is able to keep a few close friends, who turn out to help him at crucial moments.  Farmer also leaves a lot to the readers’ imagination, and provides eloquent lessons about what makes us human.

The e-audiobook (available through NetLibrary) is also a great way to enjoy this book.  The narrator is Robert Ramirez, a Mexican-American whose accent provides the perfect dialogue for the characters in the story. Also, Ramirez makes sure to distinguish Tam Lin from the rest of the cast by giving a Scottish accent, a detail that can be overlooked in the novel.

Awards:
National Book Award winner – 2002
Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book - 2003
Newbery Honor – 2003

Review Excerpts:
Publisher’s Weekly: “The novel’s close may be rushed, and Tam Lin’s fate may be confusing to readers, but Farmer grippingly demonstrates that there are no easy answers. The questions she raises will haunt readers long after the final page.” – Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Booklist starred review: “This is a powerful, ultimately hopeful story that builds on today’s sociopolitical, ethical, and scientific issues and prognosticates a compelling picture of what the future could bring. All of these serious issues are held together by a remarkable coming-of-age story.” – Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Connections:

• Read other award winning novels by Nancy Farmer including: Girl Named Disaster, and The Ear, the Eye and the Arm.
• Have students draw comparisons between books with similar thematic elements: The Giver and Holes.

Bibliography:

Plot Summary:
Lucky is a ten year old girl who has lost her mother, gained a guardian, holds several jobs in her small desert town, and is searching for her Higher Power.  Lucky frequently overhears the twelve-steppers in the town talking about how they found their Higher Power, and Lucky is certain that she will gain all the wisdom and courage in the world if she finds hers.  Ambitious and fearless, Lucky searches through her relationships with the people she’s grown up with, and even ponders how her Higher Power might be connected to her estranged parents.  The bone dry desert town just might hold some answers for little Lucky.

Critical Analysis:
Patron’s novel about a smart kid trying to find his or her place in the world brings to mind some past Newbery Award winners such as Dear Mr. Henshaw, The Giver, The Westing Game, and of course the Newbery Honor book Ramona Quimby Age 8.  The main character has external obstacles and internal struggles to overcome, and the culmination of their story brings rays of hope to their future.

Lucky, like many fifth-grade children, has a voracious curiosity and likes to share her knowledge with others.  She also has worries that are influenced by the death of her mother and absence of her father.  Lucky has come to rely on Bridgitte, a French woman who flew to California to care for Lucky, but fears that Bridgitte is ready to quit her job of being Lucky’s guardian.  Lucky is sure that she’ll have to go live in an orphanage, but she doesn’t show anyone the terrible feelings she harbors.  Patron uses interesting language to describe Lucky’s feelings, such as the folds in her brain and the mean valve in her heart.  These unique and somewhat profound ways of describing how one feels are relatable to the age group. 

The setting of the story in fictional Hard Pan, California tends to give the reader a confusing idea of the time period.  One might think at the beginning that the story takes place in the mid-20th century, or even perhaps further back.  However, Patron slowly mentions the most modern technology such as a Jeep and a laptop.  This affirms to the reader that Lucky lives in contemporary rural America, which is much the same as our reality, just on a smaller scale and dustier.

Matt Phelan’s simple black and white drawings add some additional imagery to the text, and the drawings seem to echo the light and airy feeling of the wide open desert.  The drawings are also a bit reminiscent of Ramona Quimby books, again reminding readers that this book really belongs with other past Newbery-recognized novels.

Awards:
Newbery Medal – 2007

Review Excerpts:
Booklist: “Lucky is a true heroine, especially because she’s not perfect: she does some cowardly things, but she takes pains to put them to rights.” – Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved.
School Library Journal: “This character-driven novel has an unusually complicated backstory, and a fair amount of exposition. Yet, its quirky cast and local color help to balance this fact, and the desert setting is fascinating.” – Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Connections:

• Compare Lucky to other young female protagonists of similar books, such as Ramona Quimby, Alyce (from The Midwife’s Apprentice), and Turtle (from The Westing Game).
• Check out other books illustrated by Matt Phelan such as Very Hairy Bear, Where I Live, and The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs.

Bibliography:

Plot Summary:
The story opens with a young girl who is orphaned, homeless, and has no name.  She is eventually called Brat, then Beetle, and finally through her trials and tribulations deems herself worthy of a real given name, Alyce.  Alyce also gains new friends, the cat, Purr, a boy named Will, and even a tutor-of-sorts by way of the magistrate.  As a relucant apprentice, and much to the dismay of the midwife, Alyce learns the trade that will provide her with everything she wants out of life.

Critical Analysis:
Cushman has written a short and simple novel full of details and imagery.  The diction and colloquialisms provide a glimpse into how interpersonal relationships existed in the Middle Ages.  Other details provide insight into the life of children: such as the drunken boys terrorizing animals.  Also interesting was how mesmerized Alyce was by taking a simple dip in the water: ”Water was for horses to drink and an occasional quick bath before weddings and such.”  Cushman seems to provide no further context for many of the historical details she provides, but the way in which the story is weaved, readers will gain a clear idea of how life was at the time.

The unabridged e-audiobook version of this novel is narrated by Jenny Sterlin, who provides the authentic British voice to the characters in the story.  The e-audiobook contains no other music or sound effects.  The recording is relatively short, clocking in at 2.75 hours.  Users can download the e-audiobook via software such as NetLibrary.

Awards:
Newbery Award Winner - 1996

Review Excerpts:
Booklist: “Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she’s not ugly or stupid or alone.” – Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved.
School Library Journal - “With simplicity, wit, and humor, Cushman presents another tale of medieval England. Here readers follow the satisfying, literal and figurative journey of a homeless, nameless child called Brat, who might be 12 or 13?no one really knows.” – Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Connections:

• Read other books by Karen Cushman, including Catherine, Called Birdy, or Matilda Bone, which are also set in the medieval time period.
• Have students discuss the different ways in which the midwives supposedly delivered babies.

Bibliography:

Plot Summary:
The story opens with a young girl who is orphaned, homeless, and has no name.  She is eventually called Brat, then Beetle, and finally through her trials and tribulations deems herself worthy of a real given name, Alyce.  Alyce also gains new friends, the cat, Purr, a boy named Will, and even a tutor-of-sorts by way of the magistrate.  As a relucant apprentice, and much to the dismay of the midwife, Alyce learns the trade that will provide her with everything she wants out of life.

Critical Analysis:
Cushman has written a short and simple novel full of details and imagery.  The diction and colloquialisms provide a glimpse into how interpersonal relationships existed in the Middle Ages.  Other details provide insight into the life of children: such as the drunken boys terrorizing animals.  Also interesting was how mesmerized Alyce was by taking a simple dip in the water: ”Water was for horses to drink and an occasional quick bath before weddings and such.”  Cushman seems to provide no further context for many of the historical details she provides, but the way in which the story is weaved, readers will gain a clear idea of how life was at the time.

The unabridged e-audiobook version of this novel is narrated by Jenny Sterlin, who provides the authentic British voice to the characters in the story.  The e-audiobook contains no other music or sound effects.  The recording is relatively short, clocking in at 2.75 hours.  Users can download the e-audiobook via software such as NetLibrary.

Awards:
Newbery Award Winner - 1996

Review Excerpts:
Booklist: “Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she’s not ugly or stupid or alone.” – Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved.
School Library Journal - “With simplicity, wit, and humor, Cushman presents another tale of medieval England. Here readers follow the satisfying, literal and figurative journey of a homeless, nameless child called Brat, who might be 12 or 13?no one really knows.” – Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Connections:

• Read other books by Karen Cushman, including Catherine, Called Birdy, or Matilda Bone, which are also set in the medieval time period.
• Have students discuss the different ways in which the midwives supposedly delivered babies.

Bibliography:

Plot Summary:
In 1943 the world was occupied with war and almost-11 year old Dewey Kerrigan was waiting for her father to pick her up. Instead, Dewey finds herself transported by cars and trains from St. Louis to a city in New Mexico that was so top secret it wasn’t marked on the map. Throughout the next two years, Dewey faces several challenges including her developing interest in engineering, adapting to life on “the hill”, various new friendships, and her reconnecting with her father. Dewey and the other children in Los Alamos are oblivious to the impact that will be made by “the gadget” that is conceived in their backyards. But even when the gadget is brought out for all to see, uncertainty still plagues Dewey and her neighbors.

Critical Analysis:
The Green Glass Sea is primarily about family and courage. The spotlight is on the characters and their lives with the unique setting taking a backseat to the trials and tribulations of the families who live there. Readers first become acquainted with Dewey and realize that she’s quite cool and mature despite the lack of consistency in her life. The little girl seems able to easily deflect taunts from her peers and form friendships with whomever will treat her with respect. Eventually, readers also get to know Suze and her family, who try hard to keep their bonds strong during the long working hours.

Suze and Dewey experience maturation as they forge a friendship based on their unique interests and skills. The girls summon bravery as they face ridicule and teasing from their peers, and realize that courage brings great rewards in the form of a strong friendship. The friendship inspires Dewey to be brave when she finds out the devastating news that she won’t have to wait for her father to return ever again. Dewey also struggles with insecurity when she fears the outcome of her living situation when the war is over.

One very interesting facet of this story is the inclusion of real-life characters such as J. Robert Oppenheimer (“Oppie”), Richard Feynman, and Enrico Fermi. Of course, only readers who have plenty of prior knowledge about the Manhattan project will recognize these characters instantly, but even readers who discover the real history after reading this novel will appreciate the fictional close encounter with the famous men. The Trinitite described at the end of the book is also a fascinating curiosity to research after reading the novel.

Awards:
2007 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: “Many readers will know as little about the true nature of the project as the girls do, so the gradual revelation of facts is especially effective, while those who already know about Los Alamos’s historical significance will experience the story in a different, but equally powerful, way.” – Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Booklist: “The novel occasionally gets mired down in detail, but the characters are exceptionally well drawn, and the compelling, unusual setting makes a great tie-in for history classes. ” – Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Connections:

• Read and compare to another juvenile fiction book on the same subject: The Gadget by Paul Zindel.
• Use the Internet or other resources to find photographs of and quick facts about Trinitite. Also interesting to see post-read are photos and video of the Trinity bomb test.

Bibliography:

Plot Summary:
Robin Murphy is a reluctant outcast among his high school peers, so much that his last name has become a synonym for “loser”.  However, he does have one thing going for him – his girlfriend Sophie Stein is as much enamoured with him as he is with her.  Their bond is so strong that they cope and endure the taunting and teasing from everyone at school, particularly Sophie’s old friends who have abandoned her once they find out she’s dating the Murphy.

Things begin to take a turn in Robin’s life when he audits an art class at Harvard University, and discovers a social world outside of his high school scene.  The new people in his life make a big impression on him and he begins to push the envelope in terms of relationships. 

Critical Analysis:
Sones’ free verse novel takes a simple story of teenage love (or lust, depending on the viewpoint), and enriches it with a realistic touch.  Teens will identify with the way that the characters emote and express their feelings, and adults will most likely remember they once occupied the same state of mind when they were in high school.  Sones’ provides this touchstone through the use of the short and sparse text, practically a poem on each page, strung together to make an entire story. 

Most of the poetry does not have rhyme or rhythm, but it is chock full of imagery and meaning.  The main characters are frequently portrayed as being bold and fearless – they think of themselves as outlaws – despite the reputations that they gain among their peers. One section that does rhyme furthers this notion: “Here’s the way/Sophie and I play:/we take aim, think of a name, imagine those pins/are teeth or shins/pull back our arm/for maximum harm/then let the ball fly-/and eye for an eye.”  It becomes clear that, like most teens, Sophie and Robin harbor some anger and resentment, but they are able to find some respite in their self-expression, namely by drawing cartoon renderings of their situation.

One thing that is lack in the scope of emotions is guilt.  Robin seemingly gets involved with another girl with very little consideration for Sophie (in comparison to how much angst he feels over dragging her into unpopularity with him).  Then when she finds out, he seems to feign being a “swine” and go through the motions of getting her back.  Perhaps this view is only understood by that of a teenage boy.

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: “Written as a novel in verse, this title is a fast-paced, page-turning romp that gives authentic voice to male youth even when it is painfully truthful.” – Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Booklist Starred review: “Many teens will see themselves, and they’ll cheer when Sophie and Robin thwart the bullies and reclaim their social standing. Like Sones’ other titles, this is a great choice for reluctant and avid readers alike.” -Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Connections:

• Although this book can stand alone, read the first novel by Sones, What my mother doesn’t know, which features the same characters.
• Discuss with age-appropriate readers why Sones’ work has been challanged.