- Hardcover: 154 pages
- Publisher: Margaret Mcelderry (May 1993)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0689505736
- ISBN-13: 978-0689505737
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 14.7 x 2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 408 g
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
"Don't try to pull the wool over the eyes of astute middle-graders" might well be the moral of this engaging tale. Almost 13-year-old Juniper Webb is surprised when her widowed father suddenly marries Kelsey, who looks even younger than her claimed 25 years. Juniper does her best to get to know her new stepmother but, as she confides in the diary that forms her narrative, "I don't think she wants me to know her ." Disturbed by Kelsey's strange behavior and obviously invented stories about her past, Juniper delves into "The Kelsey Mystery," aided first by her best friend Alison and then by Pete, a newly returned childhood buddy. Juniper and company unsnarl quite a tangle, but all is happily resolved, with the adults taking over when the kids get in over their heads. With McGraw's ( The Seventeenth Swap ) sure artistry it is easy to believe that Juniper's lively and unaffected diary is that of a real preteenager. Just as endearingly believable is the special relationship she has with Alison, whose African American heritage is less of an issue than the Oregon weather that forms a backdrop to their activities. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-8-- After a famous author's visit to her seventh grade class, Juniper decides to spend the summer writing a mystery with her best friend, Alison. They enjoy fantasizing, but serious inspiration is soon found in Juniper's real life. Her widowed father has married Kelsey, a sweet young woman who is secretive and skittish. Juniper wants to be close to her, and adores her toddler, Preston. She wonders why Kelsey's wallet is nearly empty, and her clothes devoid of store labels; she finds her stepmother's hair dye, and suspects she colors Preston's, too. Although the plot is somewhat simplistic and leans heavily on foreshadowing, McGraw has captured the interests and feelings of a typical, rather likable adolescent girl. There are some strong male characters also; Juniper's father, once he grasps the situation, makes some excellent decisions. Readers will enjoy unraveling the mystery, but because both alcoholism and the social welfare system are painted in a flat way, they may need to be shown that there are avenues for help other than running away.
- Cindy Darling Codell, Clark Middle School, Winchester, KY
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- Cindy Darling Codell, Clark Middle School, Winchester, KY
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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