Lemons Hardcover – May 2, 2017

undefined

From School Library Journal --------------------------- Gr 3–6—Lemonade Liberty Witt has just lost her mother and has been uprooted from her home in 1970s San Francisco to live with her estranged grandher in Willow Creek, CA. Lem's grandher is a Bigfoot enthusiast, though not quite as enthusiastic as Tobin Sky, the boy next door, who quickly embraces Lem as a confidant. Lem must learn to cope with her own pain while understanding others', all while helping Tobin run the local Bigfoot Detective Inc. (and leads on the cryptid have been pouring in!). Debut author Savage is a child and family therapist, and her ins into child grief are clear in the narrative. This works mostly in the book's favor, though at times the discussion veers toward the clinical. Lemon's emotions are front and center, complemented by those of her grandher. Later on, it's discovered that Tobin is dealing with the loss of his her, who was reported MIA in Vietnam. This extra layer is a little much for the story to handle at times, but it does lead to a sweet and hopeful ending. The closing scenes are a bit puzzling, taking the novel from historical to fantastic; in an otherwise realistic title, this final plot piece seems out of place. The book is well paced, with plenty of humor to balance the heavy themes. Lem is a likable character, and while her relationship with one of her former teachers is implausibly Matilda-esque, her feelings and reactions are relatable. Though she doesn't get her mother back, she does learn how to rebuild her life in a way that is full of love and happiness. VERDICT An enjoyable and welcome exploration of sorrow, healing, and friendship. Recommended as a general purchase for medium to large libraries, and a good option for collection-specific needs.—Taylor Worley, Springfield Public Library, OR Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) Review ------ "An enjoyable and welcome exploration of sorrow, healing, and friendship." —School Library Journal "An enjoyable and comforting middle-grade handbook on navigating new experiences and the heartache of losing loved ones early in life." —Kirkus Reviews "Savage injects enough humor, mystery, and lively interaction among the characters to give this two-hanky debut a buoyant tone." —Booklist "[A]pt and accessible for young readers." —The Bulletin Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) See all Editorial Reviews ( /dp/product-description/1524700126/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&isInIframe=0 )