About This Book
Gr 5-7-While continuing to mourn her mother's death seven years earlier, 12-year-old Tery Ordway likes and respects her new stepmother, taking the extra step to try to understand her. Still, she feels left out of her father's life and longs for him to show some sign of affection toward her. She is mature beyond her years, in part because of her facility with language and astounding memory, yet she remains childlike in her approach to life. When her father pushes her to try writing for the summer edition of the high school newspaper, even though she is still in junior high, she decides to interview 105-year-old Junior Kuhl, a survivor of the San Francisco earthquake and fire. Pearce blends contemporary and historical fiction as Junior's memories take Tery back to 1906. The characters are well developed, their voices are distinct, and the plot moves easily from event to event. However, some of the deeper social issues concerning recovery from a catastrophic disaster are addressed in a superficial manner, leaving readers with more questions than answers. Also, those who haven't read prior titles in the series will be left in the dark about the characters' backgrounds. The story starts off slowly, but as the narrative unfolds, it has something to catch the attention of fans of the previous books.-Wendy Smith-D'Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
