Dora was subject to the teasing of the older kids she walked to school with, convincing her that she wouldn't be able to walk with them anymore if she didn't try to steal a mango from the strange neighborhood lady's yard. Dora learns the lesson that people are not always as they seem, or as people make them out to be. By talking with the "face in the window" instead of judging it from afar, she has the chance to understand Ms. Nella better and realize she's not as scary as she thought after all. I like how the story line really unveils the miscommunication that can occur when you don't get to know someone personally before passing judgement. This was an interesting way for children to read about mental illness, how those who suffer from it are human- gentle, loving, and not to be afraid of. ( )

Regina Hansen has written a story of new understandings set in Jamaica. A young girl is peer pressured into knocking a mango off of a tree in the yard of a mentally ill woman. When she sees the woman's face in the window she becomes frightened, based on the stories other children have told her. When she finally expresses her fears to her parents they explain the situation and tell her that people are scared of what they do not understand. This book teaches such a wonderful lesson about how tolerance, understanding and kindness can make the world a better place. Too long for a read aloud, but would be great for a middle elementary reader. The wording of some parts would be difficult for a new reader to comprehend. ( )