Here's to You Rachel Robinson

Gr 5–8—Rachel Robinson is every teacher's dream student. As she's wrapping up the seventh grade, teachers are trying to lure her into participating in extracurricular activities for gifted students, and as a result, away from her friends. But Rachel's mind is focused on one thing: Charles, her older brother. He's back at home after being kicked out of boarding school and his mission in life is to torture and bully his family. Rachel's friends think Charles is cute, but true to her no-nonsense nature, Rachel can't understand what they see in him. Charles focuses most of his cruelty on Rachel and their older sister, Jessica, a shy high school senior, who is battling a painful case of cystic acne. He also gnashes his brutish teeth at his trying parents and at his cousin, Tarren, a divorced, single mother who is having an affair with a married man. Judy Blume is a master at creating complex characters that tweens enjoy. In this novel (1993), Rachel's personal growth and eventual acceptance of her family is never forced and sends the message that life is messy, but everything's going to be fine. Mandy Siegfried's narration enhances Blume's talent for writing dialogue. Her girlish pitch provides an authentic performance. This companion novel to Just As Long As We're Together (1986, both Orchard) is an excellent choice for libraries where the author is popular.—Annica Stivers, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA