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THEMBA

The author of Beyond Safe Boundaries (1990), an evocative YA novel about growing up Jewish in South Africa, returns to her native land with a story for younger children. Here, Themba- -concerned because his father has not returned, as promised, from three years in the gold mines—gets to Queenstown by hiding in a truck, carrying a hen he hopes to use as payment for a ticket to Johannesburg. Fortunately, ``Utata'' arrives on the train, which had been too crowded the week before. The simple, nondidactic narrative integrates a number of cultural details: the communal cooking in Themba's Xhosa village, the contrasting home of his white friend Koos, his first encounter with a modern town. Effectively depicting the dramatic moments, Clay's softly rendered b&w illustrations will help young Americans visualize the African scene. Not outstanding, but nice. (Fiction. 7-10)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1992

ISBN: 0-525-67414-4

Page Count: 44

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1992

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HOW LIFE BEGAN

Dramatic, oversized paintings and a brief text take the reader from the creation of the universe to modern Homo sapiens. This impressive-looking overview suffers somewhat from a lack of captions (e.g., several forms of ``early man `' are discussed but it's not indicated which is illustrated) and from oversimplification (Berger opens with ``The Big Bang'' as fact rather than as one of several theories). Dinosaurs are overemphasized and dramatically but conventionally portrayed; some readers may be confused by including non-dinosaurs in the ``dinosaur section'' without explanation. Still, a visually appealing introduction. Index. (Nonfiction. 8-10)

Pub Date: June 14, 1991

ISBN: 0-385-24874-1

Page Count: 45

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1991

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GHOSTS IN FOURTH GRADE

In a sequel to No Bean Sprouts, Please! (1989), James and his friends do battle with Mean Mitchell, the school bully. After being punched in the mouth, James vows revenge and concocts an elaborate plan to frighten his nemesis in the local haunted house. On Halloween, he and his friends plan to play a series of tricks—only to be terrified by extra, unexpected ghostly events. It's plucky T.J. who confronts Mean Mitchell, who has discovered their intentions and tried to outsmart them; in coming to her rescue, James finds a way to get back at the bully after all. Characterization is rudimentary, but the story moves briskly, carried by snappy dialogue and its appealing, if pedestrian, events. Smith's pleasantly slapdash drawings fit right in. Fans who enjoyed James's previous adventures will not be disappointed. (Fiction. 8-10)

Pub Date: June 15, 1991

ISBN: 0-8234-0865-5

Page Count: 68

Publisher: Holiday House

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1991

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