Just Plain Foolishness

Gr 2—5—Eleven-year-old Rachel Yoder's summer is not going as planned in this volume (Barbour, 2008) by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Her family's barn burned down and their Amish community is pulling together to rebuild it. Rachel wants to help, but all anyone will let her do is haul water and make sandwiches. Meanwhile, her grandfather finally opens his greenhouse for business. Rachel can hardly wait to work there, but must help out in the house and at the family's roadside stand first. Worst of all, Rachel's mother is expecting a baby and Rachel is not at all sure she wants to be a big sister. When the baby is born on Rachel's birthday, she's more upset than ever and believes that everyone has forgotten her. When an English girl who she meets at the farmer's market invites her to join her and her brother on a trip to an amusement park, Rachel jumps at the opportunity without asking permission. There is clearly a message here, but the engaging story, light humor, and interesting characters keep it from feeling heavy-handed. Rachel's Amish faith and culture is respectfully presented and is a key element throughout the story. Ellen Grafton does a solid job of giving voice to Rachel and the other characters, and she clearly portrays the girl's angst. While this may not have broad appeal, it is a solid choice for listeners looking for a mild story with a touch of fun and likeable characters.—Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT