Jacqueline Dembar Greene

I continue to find MaryEllen one of the less interesting historical characters, and maybe that's because her stakes are relatively low (which is ok; these characters are 10 year olds and history shouldn't necessarily be a gallery of trauma). The Finders Keepers Rule revels in it's Daytona Beach setting, and would be good for learning about the Atlantic coast of Florida, and who actually owns something that's found via salvage.

Only one of her friends was around (a little surprised the Karens weren't interested in prepping for the big dance?) but there were lots of good interactions between the Larkin siblings.… (meer)

Really liked this one, as it went into the immigrant experience in 1914. Rebecca's paternal uncle and his family arrive from Russia, but her 15 year old cousin Josef is detained on Ellis Island because he hurt his leg on the boat and immigration officials consider anything less than perfect health as a potential reason to deport people back from where they came.

Ana is of an age with Rebecca and starts school with her, and though she knows some English she still has an accent and is teased for it. Mama encourages assimilation because truthfully, they're about to be Americans now, and assimilation is a survival tactic. My own grandparents faced similar choices growing up in the 1920s midwest- Yeh-yeh intentionally did not teach his own children Cantonese because he recalled being picked on for it as a child. Still, Rebecca wants to sing "You're a Grand Old Flag for the school assembly on the new flag (Arizona and New Mexico!)- whatever will she do with her cousin?


There's children-appropriate discussion of housing issues for immigrants as well as work issues and patriotism.… (meer)

Really liked this one! Candlelight continues the themes around assimilation and being American from [b:Rebecca and Ana|6098130|Rebecca and Ana (American Girls Rebecca, #2)|Jacqueline Dembar Greene|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388816517l/6098130._SX50_.jpg|6275264], where Miss Maloney has the class make Christmas centerpieces as a fun and festive classroom activity... even though several students don't actually celebrate the Christian holiday. Meanwhile, downstairs neighbor Mr. Rossi is sick and needs Rebecca's help in feeding his pigeons and finding his cat.

Conversations also go over how Hanukkah isn't necessarily a MAJOR holiday in the Jewish calendar, but due to seasonal proximity to Christmas and capitalism, it's become a larger deal in the United States, and the importance of family.

edit: just remembered- early on at school, the book describes Miss Maloney running the students through exercise, partially to warm them up but also general stretches and health- it reminds me of Samantha doing the same in her books set a decade earlier!… (meer)