Historical September 1985 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Four books about orphans—or almost orphans—for older young readers take you through different kinds of struggles on the way to different kinds of upbeat endings.
In City Rose, eleven-year-old Dee has just lost her home and parents in a fire. Forced to move in with relatives in rural North Carolina, Dee has to adjust to a very different life from the one she led in Detroit. Besides the predictable isolation and loneliness, there are mysterious events which Dee finds too compelling to ignore.
She tries to figure out what is going on at the deserted old church in the woods and puts herself in great danger.
As Dee gets closer to solving the mystery, she also gets closer to feeling more secure. Who is Carrie? is another book in the series by the Collier brothers that describes what happened to blacks in colonial America. Carrie, a slave in Sam Fraunces’ tavern in New York City, is obsessed with finding out who her parents were. Picking up bits of the puzzle from her young friend, Dan, Carrie gets involved in his plan to buy his mother’s freedom as she pursues her own investigation.
Her curiousity exposes her to possible kidnapping and also to punishment for eavesdropping on President Washington himself. Suspense, history, and colorful characters combine to make a fascinating story.
In Won’t Know Till I Get There, Steve’s parents take in Earl, a foster child with a criminal record.
In Earl’s thirteen years, he has become surly, uncooperative, and withdrawn. Steve has to find a place for him not only in his room, but in his daily routines. Ironically, Steve gets into trouble with the police himself, and is assigned to service at a senior citizens center.
His experience there teaches him respect and understanding for Earl and for others.
There are lots of people with problems in this book, but lots of humor as well. Eleven-year-old Alex has been hiding for months in an abandoned building in the Warsaw ghetto.
His father has been taken away by the Nazis and it becomes increasingly harder for Alex to believe that he will ever come back, even though he has promised.
The Island on Bird Street is a remarkable story of survival based on real experience.
The author spent two years hiding from the Nazis with his mother and younger brother. Alex is completely on his own.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September 1985.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1985_09.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
