Thirteen-year-old Gilda is determined to bring together her entire family--including her divorcing parents--for a Thanksgiving celebration, no matter what the difficulties.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Although 11-year-old Avery and eight-year-old Bliss take the news of their parents divorce rather coolly, older sister Gilda is frantic that her family will become "chopped up." After the house is sold, Gilda tries to arrange things so that she and her siblings can stay together, but Avery wants to move to his mother's new apartment, Bliss is lured to New York by her wealthy grandmother and Gilda ends up moving into her father's fiancee's house. As Thanksgiving approaches, Gilda focuses her energy on a family get-together and traditional feast. Even though her plans backfire, she does have a memorable holiday and finds herself accepting the changes in her life. With wit and understanding Adler ( Goodbye, Pink Pig ; The Lump in the Middle ) explores the effects of divorce on one family through distinctly and convincingly drawn characters. Although Gilda's parents' apparent insensitivity is frustrating at times, their love for their children is deftly portrayed during several poignant moments. Gilda emerges as a mature, caring teen whose concerns are sure to touch readers' hearts. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-7-- This well-intentioned book is not up to Adler's usual standards. Gilda, an eighth grade control freak (to use a term that her mother's support group might favor), is the eldest of three children whose family is undergoing divorce. The story revolves around Gilda's wish to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner despite the breakup. But if her expectations are of an ``Ozzie and Harriet'' family, she soon learns that she lives in a ``Married . . . with Children'' world. By the end, she has figured out family life in the '90s: ``We cared about each other, and that's what mattered most.'' Gilda's narration often lacks authenticity, and while the other characters certainly have been assigned personality traits, they never become multidimensional in any way. The overall tone, when it's not whiny, is fairly blithe, considering the darkness of the situation (the parents are sometimes shockingly immature and selfish). Stories about divorce in contemporary fiction are especially strong; Marc Talbert's Pillow of Clouds (Dial, 1991) has much more emotional truth and depth than this one. --Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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