The Number 7

Gr 7 Up—Louisa and her sister are brought to Pennsylvania by their widowed father to live in the home of his once-estranged, now-deceased parents. Louisa soon begins receiving calls from her dead grandmother through an old telephone in the attic. The calls share family secrets and events that took place in Sweden during World War II. It is through these phone calls that the narrative jumps between present day to the past. Louisa is a sweet-natured, somewhat introspective teenager who is still grieving from the loss of her mother, trying to figure out how to open up to her father and sister. She is in the center of a fairly innocent love triangle and is well adjusted to the idea of her father dating someone new. She also doesn't seem too preoccupied with the fact that her dead grandmother is calling her on a rotary phone to tell her about the Holocaust. The main character of the historical sections, Gerhard (Louisa's grandfather), is fleshed out, and the tension in those historical chapters builds well. He is only slightly older than Louisa's 16 years, and the severity his circumstances versus her "which-boy-to-choose" situations eventually hits home for her. The story is interesting and highlights a part of World War II history that isn't often addressed. Strengths include a light romance, some interesting historical references, and strong pacing. The phone calls from the dead, along with a little touch of astrology and Dad's "psychic" new girlfriend, made the suspension of disbelief challenging at times. A few loose threads do not resolve fully, such as Louisa's sister engaging in some self-harm behavior and a brief bullying scene. An additional purchase for teen collections.—Heather Massa, East Rockaway Public Library, NY