No-Name Baby

Gr 6–9—The premature birth of her little brother causes anxiety, grief, and unexpected twists in the life of 14-year-old Sophie. Her mother, weakened by a late-in-life pregnancy, is nevertheless joyful when Tony's arrival follows several failed pregnancies. But Sophie's guilt about her mother's fall, which leads to early labor, grows as her stern and angry Aunt Rae takes charge, providing order and rules with little comfort or explanation. Forbidden from seeing her mother, Sophie tries to understand, yet a secretive conversation among her father, grandmother, and aunt only adds to Sophie's distress. Flood's dialogue-driven text provides glimpses of the post-World War I era in a Midwestern farm community at a time when premarital pregnancy was highly disapproved. As Sophie's concerns increase, her friendship with a boy on the next farm creates a new rift between her and her aunt, who is finally willing to come to terms with the loss of her fiancé and to divulge the secret of Sophie's existence. Each chapter's cumulative intrigue presented through Sophie's increased confusion and Aunt Rae's mounting anger and resentment builds to a much-anticipated climax. Fully fleshed out characters interact realistically as Sophie is flanked by the support of her caring, respectful grandmother and loving father. And though Rae's secret will be guessed early on by more insightful readers, the emotional drama will keep them turning pages to the poignant resolution.—Rita Soltan, Youth Services Consultant, West Bloomfield, MI