Book-Reviews

A Greater Goode by Amy Schor Ferris; Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, 2002; $15 Author Amy Schor Ferris’s latest story, A Greater Goode, is a touching novel about Addie Goode, a twelve-year-old, and her experience of friendships and the role that those friendships play in her growing up. The story is written from Addie’s point of view, and she tells about her own experiences, throwing in her own thoughts as she goes along. It is well written with good plots throughout the story and, indeed, is a page-turner. As soon as I opened the book to the prologue and read the first sentence, I was a captive of the book, entrapped in its pages with my eyes glued to the words. I remember it was a Monday, when I started the book. It was in Dr. McDonald’s office. That day I was going to have maxillofacial surgery and I was reading The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket. I was at an awfully boring part, so I got A Greater Goode out of my bag and started reading. When the assistant called my name, I got up with the book in my face, and when we were in the operating room, she said, “Let me take your book, I don’t think you’ll be having time to read.” I screamed, “No no no no no no no no no no!!!!!!!!” At home Mom said, “Dinner’s ready.” I was so involved in the book that I barely even heard her so I didn’t say anything. “Dinner’s ready!” I ignored her. “Let’s eat. Dinner’s ready!!!!” “Just a minute . . .” I muttered without looking up. It was like that for a while until Mom threatened to take the book away and I finally agreed to eat. At night I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep without finding out how the book ended, so I read and read until I closed the book and was satisfied. Just like Addie, I have had one of those weekends where everything is happening in “one full swoop,” as her housekeeper Jessie would say. Whether it’s that you have a piano concert, your best friend is moving away, a major history report is due, and you need to get a new bathing suit, or something that’s a lot more complicated like, in Addie’s case, I’ve always had a good friend to help me get through it all. But I have never really had a best friend for long because a lot of my friends tend to move away. At the moment, I’m the type of kid where I’m friends with everyone, not real good friends, just friends, and a lot of people think that’s great, but I wish that I had a best friend that I could tell everything to like Addie and her best friend Luke. When Addie and Luke saw the creepy guy being hateful toward Rachel and then slapping her in the old abandoned church, Addie and Luke ran away. But when Addie asked Jessie what she would do if she saw something bad happening, she replied, “If I saw something bad happening, I’m not the type to turn my back. If I saw someone being hateful, I’d put my two cents in. I think sometimes walking away from evil is just as evil.” Walking away from evil is just as evil. This is the one phrase in the entire book that inspired me most. Unlike Addie, I’m not the type that can stand up to people that easily and I am the type to just walk away from things. After hearing what Jessie said, I was glad that Addie decided to do something about what she saw. Judging by other experiences that she lived through, I can tell that Addie is a very kind and courageous person who can easily stand up for herself and others. At the same time that I was glad, I was also jealous of her and the ability she had to speak her mind. I would like for Addie to be my friend and have her teach me how to overcome my fears and be like her. I recommend this engaging novel for anyone who has been through tough times and knows that life brings lots of hard and complicated situations. If you’re looking for a good book on friendship, this is the book for you. A Greater Goode is a story that touches the heart, reminding us all that life is not perfect, and, nevertheless, friends will always be there for you when you need them. Martina McLarty, 12El Cerrito, California

Camellia the Bald by E. W. Zrudlo; Coastal Carolina Press: Wilmington, North Carolina, 2001; $9.95 If someone asks Jon o’Gates a question, he usually talks too much and tends to digress, which means he gives unnecessary information and gets off the subject a lot. Jon o’Gates is a character in a fascinating book called Camellia the Bald. I can relate to Jon o’Gates because sometimes at school, when I’m asked a question, I’ll give an answer and then tell a story about something I did or experienced that has little to do with the question. Once in fifth grade, my class was discussing a book and soon, because of me, the whole class was itching to tell their own dog stories because I told mine. Jon o’Gates also likes to wander off, daydream, and frolic about before doing what he’s supposed to be doing. He puts off until tomorrow what he could be doing today. So do I. My second-grade teacher once said that she wanted to “light a fire under me.” Sometimes when I’m stuck on a homework assignment, I’ll inch off my chair and go into the living room to play piano or watch TV. Well, back to the book. I have two questions for you. What would you do if you were sent away to live with your aunt, a real-live witch, and while exploring her house found an entrance to another world by climbing through a plain old mailbox? Would you be happy, scared, excited? Well, that’s what happened to young Susan Camellia Cardiff, the main character in Camellia the Bald. She found herself lost in a place she didn’t know existed. To make matters worse, she was supposedly the new queen and, therefore, it was her job to slay Glydfen—the almighty, merciless, firebreathing dragon who flew around terrorizing everyone and everything in sight. The land Susan discovered was called Ebal. Ebal was a “queendom,” not a kingdom. It was called this because only women could rule. Most adventure stories have one hero. This one had three. They were Susan, Jon o’Gates, and Piotr. Susan was a brave, understanding girl. At home, her family thought that her mother was going crazy. She would scream and hit Susan for no reason. Susan went to her aunt’s house to get away from home, and almost forgot all her pain and suffering. In Ebal, she went on a dangerous and daring adventure to the Old One. Jon o’Gates went with her as a guide. Together they ventured through dark forests, murky lakes, and even broken stars. With every step of the way, the hikers discovered more about themselves. By working together and trusting one another, they restored peace to Ebal. That reminds me of my soccer team. Have you ever heard the expression, “There’s no I in team”? It’s true. You can’t win a game alone. It’s a team effort. You have to trust the defense to shield the goal, the goalie to stop any shots, and the offense to communicate, dribble up the field, and score some goals. But I’m digressing again. Jon o’Gates was my favorite character. Not only does he give too much information that is unnecessary and off topic like me, but he is always willing to help and is a loyal friend. He could cheer Camellia up when she was scared or sad. If it weren’t for his calmness and quick thinking around the man-eating dragon, he and Susan wouldn’t have survived their long and frightening adventure. Piotr was a gruff old man who spent his life cooped up at home studying an old book about the rules and traditions of Ebal called The Histories. Piotr helps the two travelers on their long journey and gives them numerous tips that later come in handy. In the end, Susan and Jon teach Piotr how to have fun again, and enjoy life once more. Their adventure reminds me of when I moved to my new house from another town. At first, it was scary. Eventually, I relaxed and started to have fun exploring and leaping in and out of all our new rooms. Then I met new people, saw new places, and discovered new opportunities all waiting for me to arrive. There, I did it again. I started off talking about a great adventure with a dragon, and ended up talking about moving. How did I do that? Jessica Sashihara, 10Martinsville, New Jersey