Gr 2—5—Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's latest story (Delacorte, 2010) is set during the time of westward expansion, gold rushes, and stagecoaches. Emily Higgins is orphaned and without a friend in the world except for her pet turtle, Rufus. She's been sheltered most of her life and must rely on the help of three neighborly women to help her figure out what to do next. They help her get started on her way to her kind Aunt Hilda's, but her shifty Uncle Victor and the Catchum Child-Catching Services are hot on her heels. Soon Emily meets Jackson, another young orphan traveling by stagecoach, and she learns about friendship and how to fend for herself. Twists and turns, literally and figuratively, keep this story bouncing along with suspense and humor. Narrator Lee Adams enhances Naylor's brilliant use of vernacular, giving many characters weathered voices that speak of the past. An entertaining tale.—April Mazza, Wayland Public Library, Wayland MA
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