My Rating: 4 out of 4
Division: 2 (5th grade and up)
Another beautiful cover! Perhaps as appealing for an elementary student, but I am drawn to calligraphy and the new writing fonts. I took this book home this past weekend because it was getting such good reviews as the potential winner of the Newbery Award. Well, it did win this morning...it is an Honor book. I loved it as well. I would have voted it as the winner!
This is a story set in rural Pennsylvania during World War II. A new student comes to the one room school where 12 year old Annabelle goes to school. The new student is named Betty and she is a mean bully who torments Annabelle and her younger brothers as well as others in the school. You are also introduced to a reclusive World War I veteran who roams the countryside, lives in an old shack, and makes little contact with people. Annabelle's mother gives Toby food and clothing and is kind to him, but they know little about him.
Eventually, the pranks that Betty the bully comes up with prove disastrous and violent. Of course, no one believes that Betty is responsible. Toby ends up being the scapegoat for the community as they hunt for perpetrator of the crimes that have happened to and hurt children.
Annebelle is such a feisty, smart, and lovable character. You will love her bravery, compassion, and problem solving. She is a changing the world at her young age and seeing to it that the justice served is correct. This book reads like a mystery as well, and there are clues and red herrings that are encountered along the way. Even though you have a pretty good idea who might be guilty, you see how others can look just as guilty in the mind of someone with a biased opinion.
I recommend this book highly. It is one of my favorites!
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