Wendy H. (wrinkles08) reviewed on 9/10/2005 + 87 more book reviews

Grade 4-7-This third book about Katie Roberts is set in Texas in 1948. Katie, 12, pours her heart out in her diary and in her letters to Mrs. Leitstein, her old neighbor and dear friend back in New York City. She writes about her mother and stepfather, the antics of her infant twin brothers, her best friend Lucy, and the ups and downs of her life as a seventh grader. She also deals with her feelings about her father, who was killed in the war. When Rudy, a shy boy from Italy, joins her class, Katie is made his spelling tutor and reluctantly goes to the library at recess to help him. As time passes, however, her feelings about him begin to change. Historical details are nicely woven into the story as are the religious practices of Katie and Rudy's Jewish families. Pencil drawings add to the realism of the diary format and help to personalize the entries. Readers will empathize with Katie as she feels left out, wants to be popular, misses her old life in New York, longs for a boyfriend, and does thousands-maybe millions-of chores with no thanks. Although some of the subject matter is quite somber, this story is much more upbeat than titles in the "Dear America" series (Scholastic), which also use the diary format. With believable characters and a touch of romance, Hest's book should prove popular.

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