Scribbler of Dreams

Gr 8 Up—Romeo and Juliet meet the Hatfields and the McCoys in a story that manages to remain engaging despite the predictability of its plot. Kaitlin Malone and Bram Crutchfield come from two very different worlds. Kaitlin's family are farmers and Bram's are developers; her family scrapes by making ends meet, while his family has the best that money can buy; and her father is in prison for killing his father. When these two meet and fall in love under false pretenses, it's up to Kaitlin to look to the future and do her best to change the past. Mary E. Pearson's story (Harcourt, 2001) seems a bit dated, with Bram using a pager and the lack of cell phones. While this sounds like a small detail, it stands out because of its effect on the plot line. Kate Rudd is a fantastic narrator, brilliantly conveying the characters' emotions. However, her flat Michigan accent does not evoke the California coast where the story is set.—Genevieve Gallagher, Charlottesville High School, VA