From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5–A quiet, lyrical story that sensitively explores issues of friendship and being true to oneself. When fourth-grader Mina moves to a new elementary school, she is relieved to be accepted into "the Fellow Friends" group of Ruth, Alana, and Sammy. Marsden subtly develops Mina as a somewhat timid person who needs to feel secure; her mother sometimes calls her a "stick in the mud," and Mina considers herself a "girlie girl," not athletic like Ruth. But during a tryout for the track team, she surprisingly finds herself flying around the track and almost beating Ruth. Frightened at jeopardizing their friendship, Mina purposely loses a race and then faces the consequences of her own disappointment as well as Ruth's reaction. The conflict reaches a satisfying climax when Mina gathers the courage to confront Ruth, though the ending–a relay race when their team wins–seems a mite pat. While there is some description of the sport, the action is predominantly internal, and the lucid prose is full of haunting metaphors. For example, as a school assignment Mina keeps a moon journal, and images of the moon are interwoven throughout the story. Readers who enjoy the graceful style of Patricia MacLachlan's family stories will relate to this accessible tale.–
Caroline Ward, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Gr. 3-5. Mina loves being one of the Fellow Friends, a fourth-grade foursome who greet each other with the Fellow Friends handshake and take turns carrying home the ever-enlarging Friendship Ball, made from bits of yarn. Within the group, each child has an identity: Ruth the athlete, Sammy the bug collector, Alana the reader, and Mina the new friend. When Mina discovers that she not only likes to run track but she is
fast, her unintended incursion on Ruth's territory causes a rift between the Friends. Marsden, author of
The Gold-Threaded Dress (2002), offers a close look at the give-and-take of children's friendships, a sensitive portrayal of two young athletes who run for different reasons, and an ethical dilemma that children may want to discuss: Should Mina intentionally lose the race to Ruth if she thinks it will save their friendship? With its combination of cozy and prickly elements, this chapter book makes for accessible and rewarding reading.
Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
