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BOOK REVIEWS
MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTION
The amazing secret, by Joni Eareckson
Tada and Steve Jensen. (Darcy and
friends; 1.) LCCN 00008985. Wheaton,
Ill.: Crossway Books, 2000. ISBN
1581341970, PAP, $5.99.
F. Physically handicapped--Fiction; Forgiveness--
Fiction; Christian life--Fiction. 127 p. Middle school
(High school).
The unforgettable summer, by Joni
Eareckson Tada and Steve Jensen. (Darcy
and friends; 2.) Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway
Books, 2000. ISBN 1581341962, PAP,
$5.99
F. Physically handicapped--Fiction; Prayer--Fiction;
Christian life--Fiction. 125 p. Middle school (High
school).
Sixth grader, Darcy, has been in a wheelchair for
four years, ever since a car hit her while she was
riding her bicycle. Her story begins in the
hospital where she is being treated for a pressure
sore. Darcy is frustrated and very unhappy until
a boy walks into her hospital room to cheer her
up. Eric is a unique individual in that he is a
burn victim. Joni Eareckson Tada (famed author
who is also paralyzed) describes Eric’s physical
deformities so accurately that some readers may
be emotionally affected. However, Eric’s
Christian attitude is what propels him to
befriend all children in the hospital.
Eric encourages Darcy to forgive the driver who
hit her just like he forgave his father for setting
the fire that caused his burns. Unfortunately,
Eric dies before the end of The Amazing Secret,
so Darcy must rely on her friends to help her
locate the driver of the red Corvette who hit her.
The second book, The Unforgettable Summer,
describes the exciting adventures Darcy and her
friends have during the summer. The church
family goes on an annual camp-out and Darcy is
anticipating the outing with some trepidation.
This is the last vacation before she is to enter
Junior High and the summer is an emotional
roller coaster. Darcy does not want things to
change and she is terrified that the junior high
school will not be handicap accessible, or that
she will not be able to overcome the other
students’ hurtful comments concerning her
physical disability. Prayers are answered in the
form of butterflies and a bear.
Joni Eareckson Tada creates a series that is
enlightening to those who are not disabled as
well as to those who are. Readers do not need to
read the series in numerical order, however,
students will want to know the beginning of
Darcy’s story. The author provides a very
realistic portrayal that should be a positive
influence to all who read these books. Glossaries
in both books define terms that students may not
recognize.
Connie Weaver, Church Librarian, Newville, Pennsylvania
Anastasia : the last Grand Duchess, by
Carolyn Meyer. (The royal diaries.)
LCCN 00020399. New York: Scholastic,
2000. ISBN 0439129087, HBB, $10.95.
F. Anastasia Nicholaievna, Grand Duchess, daughter
of Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, 1901-1918--
Fiction; Russia--History--Nicholas II, 1894-1917--
Fiction; Diaries--Fiction. 220 p. Middle school.
Author Carolyn Meyer gives the reader an
insightful look at Anastasia, daughter of
Nicholas II, the last czar of Russia. Using a
diary format, Meyer brings life to the grand
duchess, offering personal glimpses into the life
of the royal family. The story spans only three
years in Anastasia’s life and is penned primarily
by her, as she journals her thoughts and her
everyday doings. The reader sees a young girl
experiencing the same joys and disappointments
as other children. Anastasia shares her feelings
about those around her, including the eerie
spiritualist Rasputin, and the uncanny power
and influence he has over Anastasia’s mother.
The reader takes part in the arrest, exile, and
house imprisonment of the czar and his family.
Near the end of the book, Anastasia decides to
destroy her journal, the keeper of her thoughts;
Meyer picks up the story with a narrative of
what occurred that fateful day in July of 1918.
This book brings to life one of the most
discussed and theorized-about girls of history,
Anastasia. At the end of the book, Meyer notes
the various rumors surrounding the supposed
disappearance of the grand duchess and her
reported resurfacing; she does not disclaim the
rumors, but mentions that the remains of the
royals were recovered. DNA testing has proven
that the remains are those of Nicholas and his
family; however, Meyer explains that not all of
the family remains are accounted for—those of
the youngest child, a boy, and one of his sisters
is missing.
Actual photographs of the royal family help add
substance and dimension to these historical
people. This is an accurate account of the grand
duchess and will spark the interest, curiosity,
and imagination of most readers.
Eileen Zygarlicke, Freelance Writer/Editor, Grand Forks, North
Dakota
Batty Hattie, by Virginia Nielsen. LCCN
98047667. Tarrytown, N.Y.: Marshall
Cavendish, 1999. ISBN 0761450475,
HBB, $14.95.
F. Bats--Fiction; Schools--Fiction; Mothers and
daughters--Fiction; Uncles--Fiction. 144 p. Middle
school (Elementary).
Henrietta is so upset! Her mother is taking her
to live with her Uncle Mike while her mom
tours the country playing the clarinet. Henrietta
feels abandoned and unwanted. She has to live
in a small mining town away from her friends,
and to top it all off, her uncle is a scientist who
studies bats! Working through the teasing from
new classmates—and her loneliness—is a
challenge that leaves her hurt and angry. The
boys at school even give her the name “Batty
Hattie.” When Henrietta is at last allowed to
accompany her uncle to the bat caves she
commits the number one offence, touching a bat
with her bare hands. Not only that, but she
actually takes the baby bat home with her and
hides it in her bedroom.
Suddenly Henrietta has a purpose in her life:
keeping the baby bat, Smokey, alive. She has to
feed it every two hours all through the night,
becoming so tired she keeps falling asleep in
school. Without ever telling her uncle, she even
decides to take the bat to school as part of her
nature project. Unfortunately, the bat escapes
and creates chaos. Now what will her uncle do
about her disobedience? Will her mother be
disappointed in her and quit her life-long dream
of touring with a musical band?
All these questions and more are answered as
the author, Virginia Neilsen, shares a tale about
the joy and love a pet can bring, and the true
love of a parent, even in circumstances that
don’t always seem agreeable. She also provides
fascinating information about bats that should
hold the interest of the reader. There are several
typographical errors in the book and the main
character uses a swear word once in anger.
There are also allusions to evolutionary ideas
concerning the origin of bats.
Mary McKinney, Former Teacher, Freelance Writer, Editor, Port
Orchard, Washington
Chat freak, written by Kristi Holt; created
by Terry K. Brown. (Todaysgirls.com; 6.)
LCCN 00056053. Nashville: Tommy
Nelson, Thomas Nelson, 2000. ISBN
0849975832, PAP, $5.99.
F. Online chat groups--Fiction; Computers--Fiction;
Interpersonal relations--Fiction; Christian life--Fiction.
140 p. Middle school.
According to her family and friends, Morgan
Cross spends too much time online. Her
schoolwork, social life, and home life suffer, as
she becomes addicted to email. Morgan tells
herself that spring break is coming soon, so she
will have time to play catch up then. Besides,
Morgan’s online friends really need and
appreciate her help, unlike everyone else around
her. Anna, whose mother is paranoid about her
eating habits, depends on their email
communications. And “last_wish,” who is
dying of cancer, is worried about leaving his
poor mom with an enormous hospital bill.
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