In this sequel to Liberty Porter, First Daughter (2009), nine-year-old Liberty continues to explore her new White House surroundings, copes with her first day at school and takes a field trip to the Smithsonian National American History Museum. Liberty’s efforts to be “nice, friendly, and welcoming to all” are frustrated by a small group of girls who want to monopolize her, and the extra attention she gets is a burden. Sprinkled with trivia about White House life, U.S. history and the museum, this will surely appeal to readers already intrigued by the lives of the current White House children. Who would not want to be part of a class invited to slide on the floors of the East Room and eat ice-cream sundaes with the president? Pooler’s grayscale illustrations break up the text every few pages, as do occasional lists and plentiful dialogue. Events from the first book are mentioned, but readers can easily start here. Those drawn in by the new-at-school story and friendship issues will stay for the fun. (Fiction. 8-11)
Pub Date: July 6, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4169-9128-1
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2010
The Lotus Pines Youth Baseball League is all abuzz: the outgoing commissioner has announced a treasure hunt with three rare baseball cards as the hidden prize. Southside Sluggers Rachel, Zach, and Andy work steadily on solving his cryptic rhymed clues, meanwhile trying to improve their team's dismal record; with the help of Seth, a new would-be superstar outfielder, they manage both. More product than story, this mystery-cum-sports fiction, based on a scenario by Glenn Lewis and Gail Tuchman, combines predictable plot, bland characters, superfluous explanations (``Andy was the peacemaker...''), an afterword about collecting baseball cards, and a glib lesson about the value of teamwork; it is, of course, one of a series. Occasional b&w drawings feature young people with puzzled expressions. (Fiction. 9-11)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-671-72927-6
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 1991
Viewed as a neighborhood eccentric partly because of her many cats, Mrs. Sarafiny fascinates Anna, who can't have a pet because of her older sister's allergies. After Anna and her friend Bethie embark on a piece of feline rescue work, they place a stray with the ``cat lady'' and get better acquainted with her. During subsequent visits, the children witness Mrs. Sarafiny's deteriorating mental condition and worry about her meals (she eats cat food)—so much so that they take cans from home and spend their own money shopping for her. After the elderly woman puts a TV set in the oven (she says she's ``making a TV dinner''), Anna and Bethie know they can't cope alone. Parents and other adults take charge; Mrs. Sarafiny, diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, is soon on the mend. How the seemingly impoverished Mrs. Sarafiny will pay for the ongoing care prescribed for her is never made clear. But that's only one problem in a story flawed by the effort to keep emotions and perspectives child-size; it seems labored and occasionally borders on precious. Few children will sit still for it. (Fiction. 8-11)
Pub Date: Feb. 28, 1992
ISBN: 0-06-020242-4
Page Count: 176
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 1991
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
