Review of SO B. IT

Weeks, Sarah. 2004. SO B. IT. New York: Laura Geringer Books. ISBN 0-06-623622-3

Bluebonnet award nominee SO B. IT offers believable characters going through real crises. Heidi, a strong-willed 12-year old girl, takes a trip across the country to discover her identity. Author Sarah Weeks’ commitment to realism is evident. Though strong-willed, Heidi does not forge boldly into the unknown, rather she steps out with timid determination. Through a likely series of events, Heidi’s uncertainty comes and goes in waves. Her bouts of strength and resolve come from her connection to her care-giver, Bernadette. Though she is not with Bernadette, frequent phone calls from the road serve as a lifeline for Heidi. Together they work to accomplish Heidi’s goal: discovering the meaning of “soof.” Weeks uses Heidi’s voice to tell the story. On her sojourn, Heidi makes lists of her observations, such as “What I know about mama” and “What I know about lying.” These lists give the reader a snapshot of Heidi’s thoughts and growth. The setting of SO B. IT is critical to the functionality of the story. The combination of Nevada, with legalized gambling, and Heidi’s lucky streak, provides a financial means to support Heidi’s journey. Also, being a young girl in America both facilitates as well as adds conflict to the plot. Though the Unites States is a fairly open and free society, there are rules about young people traveling alone. This scenario would be less plausible in a culture which is more restrictive, in particular toward females. The “tween” years are a time during which many search for their identity. This theme is sure to strike home for the target audience. SO B. IT also perceptively explores the lives and families of those with mental disabilities.

This contemporary realistic fiction is recommended for readers grades 5-8.

Review of CLEMENTINE

Pennypacker, Sara. Marla Frazee. (Ill.) 2006. CLEMENTINE. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0-7868-3882-5

In this first person account of a second grader’s life, the reader is taken on a stream-of-consciousness roller coaster ride. Sara Pennypacker strings together seemingly disconnected thoughts and, thus, creates a window into the mind of the title character, Clementine. This rambunctious, distractible, and impulsive girl is so believable, I got tired just reading about her. Clementine pays attention to the wrong things and helps by cutting her friend’s hair and drawing curls on her head with her mother’s special markers. This makes her, as her friend puts it, “the hard one.” Though believable, Clementine’s gender makes her an atypical protagonist. Most stories about difficult children are about boys rather than girls. Marla Frazee’s frequent monochromatic drawings shed additional light on Clementine’s personality. The reader sees her spiky hair after she has cut it off and her sad expression when her mother sees her. The frequency of the pictures, about every other page, also serves to aid readers in their transition to longer novels. Though the book is more than 100 pages, the regularity of the illustrations helps to break up the text and make it less intimidating for recent ‘early reader’ graduates. Though many different things happen, Pennypacker pulls them all together into a cohesive and engaging plot. Why is Clementine at the principal’s office? How will they get rid of the pigeons? What will Clementine do next? This story’s themes of childhood insecurity and unconditional parental love are universal and timeless.

This fast paced contemporary realistic fiction novel, with its comical and telling illustrations, is highly recommended for readers grades 2-5.