Betti on the High Wire

Gr 4—6—Precocious and stubborn ten-year-old Babo is one of the "leftover children" living at a destroyed circus camp in an unknown war-torn country in Lisa Railsback's tale (Dial, 2010) about adoption, new beginnings, and the melding of diverse cultures. Auntie Moo has cared for the children since the soldiers burned their camp and left them orphans. Babo's misconception about foreigners leads her to sabotage visits by prospective adopters. To her dismay, the Buckworths, an American couple, think she is smart and pretty, even though she has a "fish eye" and missing toes. She finds it challenging to adapt to American life and her new name, Betti. The child is teased mercilessly at school for her overdramatic stories about her parents' exploits in the circus: her mother was "The Tallest Woman in the World with a Tail" and her father was "Green Alligator Man." Betti hopes that bad behavior will make the Buckworths send her home, but their love and acceptance of her only grows. Gradually, her thoughts of returning home are less immediate. Betti's sometimes humorous misuse of the English language helps lighten the dark background story. Rachel Gray's cool, charming voice helps listeners better understand the mixture of undeveloped and conventional English which can be confusing. She does an outstanding job of bringing a multitude of voices to life. While this title may not have wide appeal, it will be well received by adoptees from other countries and children who are trying to adapt to a new culture.—Caitlyn Walsh, Fayetteville Public Library, AR