bookshelf

ALL IS WELL

Name: ALL IS WELL
Author: Kristen Embry Litchman
ISBN: 0-385-32592-4

by Kristen Embry Litchman & illustrated by Warren Chang ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 1998

bookshelf

An unusual story, both gentle and inspiring, of friendship in the face of serious obstacles. When a non-Mormon family moves in next door in Salt Lake City in 1885, Emmy doesn’t find it easy to explain to her new friend, Miranda, why, as a Mormon, she has two mothers but only one father. Further complicating their friendship is that Miranda’s father works for the Salt Lake Tribune, which is campaigning against the illegal practice of polygamy; government agents are actively hunting down those who break the law and jailing them. This forces Emmy’s father to go into hiding, but not before he enjoins his family not to ever let non-Mormons (Gentiles) into their home in his absence. Emmy and Miranda find ways to work around his conditions until Miranda becomes gravely ill with typhoid. Emmy believes that the only thing that can save her friend is a blessing from Emmy’s father, but if he returns to Salt Lake City, he will certainly be apprehended. Although Emmy and Miranda occasionally slip out of character and into roles as mouthpieces for their respective points of view, Litchman’s debut is a sound one; she offers readers insight into a part of the American experience that is often ignored or misrepresented in history books. (b&w illustrations, not seen) (Fiction. 9-12)

Pub Date: May 1, 1998

ISBN: 0-385-32592-4

Page Count: 106

Publisher: Delacorte

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1998

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS FICTION

- BOOK REVIEW
PERIOD PIECES
edited by Erzsi Deàk & Kristen Embry Litchman

bookshelf

LUNCH MONEY

by Andrew Clements & illustrated by Brian Selznick ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2005

bookshelf

Budding billionaire Greg Kenton has a knack for making money and a serious rival. When he issues his first Chunky Comic Book at the beginning of sixth grade, his neighbor and classmate Maura Shaw produces an alternative. Their quarrel draws the attention of the principal, who bans comics from the school. But when they notice all the other commercial messages in their school, they take their cause to the local school committee. Without belaboring his point, Clements takes on product placement in schools and the need for wealth. “Most people can only use one bathroom at a time,” says Greg’s math teacher, Mr. Z. Greg gets the message; middle-grade readers may ignore it in favor of the delightful spectacle of Greg’s ultimate economic success, a pleasing result for the effort this up-and-coming young businessman puts into his work. Clements weaves intriguing information about comic book illustration into this entertaining, smoothly written story. Selznick’s accompanying black-and-white drawings have the appearance of sketches Greg might have made himself. This hits the jackpot. (Fiction. 9-12)

Pub Date: July 1, 2005

ISBN: 0-689-86683-6

Page Count: 224

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2005

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE FRINDLE FILES
by Andrew Clements ; illustrated by Brian Selznick

- BOOK REVIEW
THE FRIENDSHIP WAR
by Andrew Clements

- BOOK REVIEW
THE LOSERS CLUB
by Andrew Clements

bookshelf

CLUES TO THE UNIVERSE

by Christina Li ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 12, 2021

Charming, poignant, and thoughtfully woven.

bookshelf

An aspiring scientist and a budding artist become friends and help each other with dream projects.

Unfolding in mid-1980s Sacramento, California, this story stars 12-year-olds Rosalind and Benjamin as first-person narrators in alternating chapters. Ro’s father, a fellow space buff, was killed by a drunk driver; the rocket they were working on together lies unfinished in her closet. As for Benji, not only has his best friend, Amir, moved away, but the comic book holding the clue for locating his dad is also missing. Along with their profound personal losses, the protagonists share a fixation with the universe’s intriguing potential: Ro decides to complete the rocket and hopes to launch mementos of her father into outer space while Benji’s conviction that aliens and UFOs are real compels his imagination and creativity as an artist. An accident in science class triggers a chain of events forcing Benji and Ro, who is new to the school, to interact and unintentionally learn each other’s secrets. They resolve to find Benji’s dad—a famous comic-book artist—and partner to finish Ro’s rocket for the science fair. Together, they overcome technical, scheduling, and geographical challenges. Readers will be drawn in by amusing and fantastical elements in the comic book theme, high emotional stakes that arouse sympathy, and well-drawn character development as the protagonists navigate life lessons around grief, patience, self-advocacy, and standing up for others. Ro is biracial (Chinese/White); Benji is White.

Charming, poignant, and thoughtfully woven. (Fiction. 9-12)