Insight

Gr 7—10—A poignant but flawed novel about a teenager coming of age in 1940s Wisconsin. Elvira has several conflicts: a father, Ray, who walked out on the family; a mother who constantly nags; and—strangest of all—a four-year-old sister who has psychic visions. When Jessie claims that Ray is waiting for them in California, Elvira's mother uproots the family to search for him. Despite Jessie's clairvoyance, this book is more realistic fiction than fantasy: Ray's alcoholism and the family's poverty are depicted in detail. Though references are occasionally made to World War II, it's easy to forget that the book is historical fiction. Elvira's descriptions of her strained familial relationships and pain over her father's absence will resonate with readers. However, Jessie's character seems like a caricature of a small child, and the dialogue is stilted in places. Though the first half of the book is well paced, loose ends are wrapped up too quickly. The vision that Jessie describes to Elvira of their happy life is far too pat to be a satisfying conclusion, and the tense rapport between Elvira and her mother is too palpable and raw to be resolved in a single conversation. The climactic scene in which Elvira finally deciphers Jessie's cryptic prediction about their father may come as a surprise to inexperienced readers but more mature readers will see it coming.—Mahnaz Dar, formerly at Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City