Angelini, Josie Snow Lane, 197 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2018. $17.
Language: PG (13 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (abuse by a
parent, groping); Violence: PG (fights)
At ten years old, Annie is the youngest of eight
siblings (seven girls, one boy), in a
very crowded house, with little room for love.
She has two fast friends/protectors at school, which gives her the
strength to walk the tightrope of her loveless family. It isn’t until her sister runs away and
brings the situation to the attention of the authorities that things have a
chance to take a turn for the better.
The conflict between the length of the book and the content
makes it hard to suggest a school level for this book. Plus, I don’t want to think that young
children who would be drawn to the length would see themselves within its
pages. But older students who can handle
the content, need more than the book provides.
I feel like I had a good long look at Annie’s life, with deeper
understanding of her family dynamic.
But, when it comes to the resolution, it lacks depth and
exposition. Annie’s story was difficult
to read for all the right reasons – Angelini makes us squirm, because we know
that this is what life really is like for far too many children. I just wish she had given equal strength to
the end.
MS – OPTIONAL. Cindy,
Library Teacher
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