Book
"Through a pastiche of poems and pictures, Williams presents an affecting portrait of two young sisters in a struggling family. In the opening entry, readers learn why older Essie is smart and why Amber is brave. Gradually, readers learn about the challenges they face: their mother works long hours, their father is in jail for check forgery, the radiator grows cold in the evenings and there is little food. Yet there are lighthearted moments, as when the sisters make a "best sandwich" (with Amber on one side, Essie on the other, and Wilson The Bear in the middle), shriek with laughter as they jump on the bed and share a weekly ritual of playing beauty parlor with their mother. In perhaps the most poignant passage, Amber cuts off her braids "to send to Daddy/ so he'll be sure to remember me." The tale closes on an upbeat note when Daddy appears at the door." --Publishers Weekly
All Ages
School Age (6-12)
English
0060571829
Vera Williams
2004 HarperTrophy; Reprint edition
Back to Previous screen.