Girls Books

She has already asked me to purchase another "Tilly" book, so I am getting ready to do that now. I purchased this in anticipation of "the talk" and she began reading it the same day they showed "the film" at school. She is 10 years old and read the book in 2 days--school days!! Thanks to the author for providing such quality material.

I bought this book for my 10 year old niece and she thoroughly enjoyed the story and the helpful information in the book. When I read it, I wished that this book was available for me when I was growing up!

I think it is well written and I would recommend it to all mothers and fathers of young girls. It not only answers a young girl's questions and lets her know what to expect, but it is written in such a way as to be entertaining also.

I wished I had had a book like this when I was younger.

I purchased this book for my eleven year old daughter but thought I would read it first. This book provides a fresh approach to the important female milestone and once I read it, I couldn't wait to shared it with my daughter! She Loved It!

MOTHERS - GRANDMOTHERS - AUNTS - WOMEN, I highly recommend sharing this book with your young girls -- The information is accurate and written in an easy-to-understand format without being distracting or confusing and without introducing sexual issues that the child might not be ready for.

This book certainly stands out from the many informational books about menstruation that I've read!

From a male perspective, I see this book a necessity for fathers raising their daughters. It's a nice story about a little girl going through one of lifes changes, and how her mother interacts with her. The method used to explain what is happening with her can be done by either parent. Father's, too, should get as well as read this book for when their precious one reaches this stage of life. Fathers, you will be prepared for the discussion, and more importantly understanding of what all is happening. Keep in mind, Daddy's little girl do grow up.

"In performances, during the scenes when we weren't dancing on stage, a lot of the other girls liked to stay in the dressing room, where they played jacks and had fun.
"But I went up by myself to watch.
"You had to stand in the very front part of the wing against the black curtain. It was VERY important the audience didn't see you.
"I loved to watch from the wings..."
"Every time I went up there, I saw Mister B. in the other wing across from me.
"He always watched from the front wing stage right"

In thinking about TO DANCE: A BALLERINA'S GRAPHIC NOVEL, I somehow recalled a children's biography from back in my bookstore days. This was the late 90's, and the subject of the biography was one of those female American teen ice skating sensations. It wasn't too long a book, and it had sufficient information and plenty of photos, but there was no real feeling to it. It was the last thing I'd have recommended, particularly to young guy readers.

In contrast, TO DANCE: A BALLERINA'S GRAPHIC NOVEL has so much heart that I was riveted by the author's memoir of her childhood and adolescence spent in the ballet. And what provides the book's heart and intimacy are the inspired illustrations in graphic format by Mark Siegel.

In the illustrations for the piece of the story that I quote (at top) we see Siena, from her hiding spot in the darkness of the wings, watching the scene being danced and watching her beloved teacher Mr. B. (George Balanchine, who'd emigrated from Russia and had founded the School of American Ballet.) There is no way for an author to put into words the way that the illustrations show Siena gazing at the teacher who is clearly a father figure to her.

"Mister Balanchine choreographed many ballets with parts for children.
"That day we found out who had been cast in this ballet.
"And all of the children were from the school.
"I looked down the list and there was my name!
"Not everyone was selected."

Similarly, with this section, there is an illustration of Siena cheering ecstatically about finding her name amongst the cast followed by another of her solemnly observing a devastated classmate. Such illustrations inject so much emotion into this true story of a girl's dedication to and love for dance.

TO DANCE: A BALLERINA'S GRAPHIC NOVEL was added to many library collections after it won a Robert F. Sibert Honor as one of the best children's informational books of last year. But it needs to be pulled off of the shelf and read and booktalked, for this is an exceptional read for students -- girls and guys, dancers or not -- up through middle school.

While other people have already said wonderful things about To Dance, it's also a great book for what it is not. It's NOT another Very Young Dancer.

I was the right age for A Very Young Dancer, but discouraged and saddened me, because she was always the Best--it seemed as though if you were not the lead, your work did not count at all. [This may be a modern attitude; when Michelle Kwan came in second at The Worlds--I think--the headlines screamed Michelle Kwan Loses!]

In To Dance, Siena is a good dancer, a great dancer, even, and spends years as a Pierette, eventually leaving dance because of injuries. She never becomes a prima ballerina, instead going to college and ultimately making a career out of the business of dance. Which is what is wonderful about this book. It shows how dance can run in your veins even though you're not Kirkland.

It's refreshing that the author and illustrator show much of her individual personality, not JUST her dedication to her art. Beautifully written, beautifully illustrated.

How should your average adult shopper determine the difference between a graphic novel that is good and a graphic novel that is bad? It's simple. If a graphic novel is bad then it will be poorly illustrated, shamefully written, and just dull all over. If a graphic novel is good it can convert the unconvertible. I work with a woman who is a self-proclaimed woman "too old" for graphic novels. She never dug them. Never much cared for them. And then "To Dance" fell into her lap and BANG! Instant fan. This should come as no very great surprise. We're dealing with the Siegel duo. Mark Siegel the illustrator may at this point in time be best known for "Seadogs: An Epic Ocean Operattea" which he penned with aplomb. He's the editorial director of First Second (the company that gave the world that go-buy-it-right-now book "American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang) and a talented artist in his own right. And Ms. Siena Cherson Siegel attended the School of America Ballet where she studied "preprofessionally" (as the book's author blurb says) for twelve years. So what couple is better suited to depict the rigor and wonder of how a child becomes a ballerina, I ask you? This is a biography like you've never seen it before.

Siena begins her story this way: "Big, empty spaces always made me dance". She yearned to move. First growing up in San Juan, Puerto Rico and then later when her family moved to Boston. For Siena, dance was in her heart and mind. She flew to New York in 1977 to get a taste of dance rigor at the American Ballet Theater and discovered that she wanted to be a ballerina more than anything. A year later she auditioned for the School of American Ballet (founded by George Balanchine) and got in. As her home life grew unpleasant, Siena's time with the ballet became even more precious to her. The book tracks what it's really like to be both a kid and a professional ballerina. And though she quit at the age of 18 and followed other pursuits, she still dances today. "Dancing fills a space in me".

I must say that if the Siegels had put their heads together and said, "Let's find a way to stymie library catalogers everywhere" they couldn't have done better than to create a graphic novel biography. Where the heck do you put it in the collection? It'll never attract its key audience in the biography section, but won't it also get lost in the fantasy/manga shuffle if you stick it in with the other graphic novels? What's a librarian to do? If I ruled the world I'd create a whole new section of gn bios and then insist that everyone from Toni Morrison to Ray Bradbury create one (art by others, of course). Ms. Siegel's memoir, however, is particularly well-written. I loved the little details of Siena's life that she was able to work into the story. It's a mere slip of a book, but there's an abundance of great details here. I was particularly fond of young Siena's fears that if her relatives had huge boobs then maybe she herself would get huge boobs. The next panel is of little Sienna lying in bed as an image of a big boobed self dances through her head. Less blatent was the book that started it all. In the story Siena receives the book "A Very Young Dancer" and is enchanted by it. As a kid, I too had a copy of that book, and I can attest to how entrancing it was. For a kid growing up in the Midwest, the idea of a kid like myself getting to live in New York to dance professionally was a wild magnificent dream. Now kids today can relive that dream, only now with Siegel's book as their guide.

And then there's Mark's art. I thought it was pretty nice and all for the first few pages, but then I came to an image he drew of two hands crossed against a pure black background that blew me away. I am a great admirer of hands and Mark knows how to draw them. Heck, he knows how to draw ballerinas period! Their poses, positions, and gestures are captured here so well that Mr. Siegel must have studied ballerinas and their moves for hours on end. Then there's the layout of the book itself. Instead of strict panels of corresponding shape and size, Siegel expands and contracts his spaces according to the story's plot. When Siena and her friends put on silk kimonos and explore the New York State Theater on their own, they stand in the vast auditorium like three small colorful specks, dwarfed by magnificence. I also liked how Siegel chose to give his book chapters of a sort. The book is broken up under headings with names like "Refuge" and "Dying Swan". As for the color scheme, Siegel uses watercolors here in variegated colors and shades. Quick eyes will also note that the first image of this book (that of Siena leaping across yellow sand as a child) is mirrored by the last image of this book (that of Siena leaping across yellow sand grown and WITH a child). Mark even makes his own headless cameo in the upper left hand corner of this last picture.

2006 seems to be the year for male artists to pen children's book odes to their wives. Matteo Pericoli did it with "The True Story of Stellina" (also in watercolors). Now Siegel does the same with "To Dance". Of course Siena Siegel wrote the book herself, so it's not as if she didn't have any input or anything. There are so few graphic novels to compare this title to that I have a hard time conveying how nice it is to you. I'll just say this: Kids (girl kids, some might say) like ballerinas. The book shows ballerinas in spades, has a great eclectic format, some great writing, and beautiful art. If you think you can do better for your kids, go ahead. Be my guest. Just remember "To Dance" when you find yourself seriously stumped gift-wise. It's a gem.

TO DANCE: A BALLERINA'S GRAPHIC NOVEL provides a blend of history, drama, and autobiography in telling of young Siena's dream to dance, which began when she was six. Ages 8-14 are the intended readers - but younger ages will find this equally accessible in its full color graphic novel format as it tells of a young dancer's evolution.

Bluebonnet award winner, Mark Siegel has teamed with his wife Siena Cherson Siegel and created an exquisite and tender graphic novel that honors dancers everywhere.

Siena began her dance journey in San Juan, Puerto Rico when she was diagnosed with flat feet. She started dance classes and fell in love with the art form. The story follows her family as they move to Boston where she sees the Bolshoi Ballet perform for the first time. She dreams of ballets.

At the age of 11 she auditions and wins a spot in the School of American Ballet and begins to work in earnest. She sees George Balanchine and Baryshnikov, Suzanne Farrell, and Gelsey Kirkland in the halls. Being fitted for her first toe shoes, winning a spot in her first performance and partnering class are all milestones in her life at SAB. Family life is difficult as her parents' marriage fails. As a teenager there are boyfriends and schoolwork and worry about the shape of her body.

Plots of ballets are seamlessly woven into the story as we see the excitement and glamor of performance balanced with the hard work of practice and the heartbreak of not being chosen to perform. Her memoir also allows the reader an inside look at the grief and sorrow that overwhelmed the company when Balanchine died.

Mark Siegel draws the story with detail and love. To depict a story like this in graphic novel form allows the reader to move through the years with Siena. The reader notes the change of color of her leotard as the years pass, each color representing a higher level at SAB. Her painful injuries and aching toes from hours of dancing are communicated without words.

One scene where young Siena is reading the book A Very Young Dancer by flashlight is typical of the care and detail the Siegels have included. I think every school library has that book as it is a favorite with young dancers. Like the girl on the cover, Siena will wear the green leotard.

Siegel opens the story with little Siena dancing on a beach. He ends it on a beach too and it brought tears to my eyes. This is sophisticated storytelling at its very best.

Words to describe this book: Brilliant, fascinating, informative, original, beautiful, a must have for all ballet students, dancers, and fans of ballet

I love this book! This is the first book in my life that I have not been able to put down. I cannot wait to read the series over again. Cherie Bennett is my favorite author and I am going to read other books by her as well. I highly recommend this book. Especially for teenagers because I really think that people could relate to it. I also recommend other books by Cherie Bennett.

This book was a lot of fun to read. It had a lot of surprises (I really thought Lisha would end up with Sky) and suspense (I never knew what to expect next from Harley). I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

It was really fun, wild, and surprising. I love the relationship problems, it adds reality. I think Sky and Lisha should go out though...

I really liked this book. It has a lot of adventure in it and the ending is certainly surprising! (I thought Lisha loved Sky, not Alan!) I think that what Lisha did, ignoring Harley, was very stupid, although it came out okay, so I guess what she did was okay. This was very well-written with lots of suspense. I reccommend it to everyone

this book rocked. anyone who can read should read this series. the next 3 books are #4 Dirty Big Secrets from Nicks point of view about Chealsea and Jazz and stuff, #5 The Evil Twin about Karma and her twin and #6 Truth or Scare where Lisha has to choose between 2 guys, supposedly the most romantic book of trash yet. I'm not sure if you can buy them yet though and i cant wait!

I have every one of the Charmed series books, this is just as good as all the rest. The girls keep you on the edge of your magical seats in another great adventure.

Trickery Treat (Charmed) was an awesome book. It had lots of history, detailed history that made me realize that it was the last in the series, but it still could have gone on another few years. They could have done what the Buffy book have done, written stories in different seasons. They could have had short stories even books written by fans. I think that would have really ended the series on a much higher note. To bad there was no Prue in this book! This whole time, we could have seen Prue at some point,especially since when we didn't get to see it in the series. Only a few minor bloopers, but all and all a great book for all you Charmed fans. A great ending to a wonderful show.

The Charmed Ones must stop this ghost before it does more harm to the house.

'Trickery Treat' was a wonderful treat to read. It gave us 'our' witches back AFTER the end of the TV series. I was delighted to resume my relationship with the characters and would encourage more books on the same vein. We want to know what happens with Wyatt growing up and Peobe pregnant. And please note not all readers are aged 9 to 12. Us grownups loved the series and I consider the books a continuation of this relationship. Thanks Diana and keep em coming!!

As always great book loved it & would like to see more books written on the charmed series

Trickster, by Laurie Halse Anderson, is one of the best books that I have ever read. It's about a boy named David whose parents get a divorce. He has to go and live with his mom. To help David take his mind off of things, she takes him to the farm where he used to ride horses. One day, David rides away from his group. David gets a chance to work at a vet clinic and David and the rest of the kids and Dr. Mac are going on a trip to the same farm. Find out what happens next in Trickster.
I like the book because the book is interesting, funny, exciting and sometimes you can't even put the book down. It's one of my favorites in the whole world.
I think that the author (Laurie Halse Anderson) could have put a little more past times in the book, maybe a little more exclamatory events too.
The message to this book is to help others when they are in trouble. Also, be responsible and don't always play around.

I liked Trickster a lot and I want to read a lot more wild at heart books!

I absolutely LOVE any Wild at Heart Books, and I can never put them down. I would strongly suggest that you buy this book for you, friend, or a family member. Anyone could find something that they enjoy in these books!!!

If you want to read this book go for it. This book is one of my favorit books. If you like books about horses this is a book for you. this is an exiting book. once you read this book and you love it look for other wild at heart books such as Masks, fight for life, teachers pet,homeless and lots more! if you think you might like it I say go for it!

The Wild At Heart book Trickster is a great book. I finished the book in two days , i just couldn't put it down. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I like horses, but by reading this book i love them even more. This book has one of the best endings i have ever read. All of the Wild At Heart books are very good, but Trickster is the best.

I loved reading Tut. It IS a fast read but when you finish it, you just want to start all over again. Jo is a breezy typical gifted kid who finds herself in the position of having traveled back to ancient Egypt. The blend of fiction and historical fact, setting , emotion and fast-paced action makes this a book that you don't want to put down. The fascination of time travel and what it was like in ancient Egypt actually makes you feel as though you have been there with Jo. The author has done a wonderful job of research and creating the voice of Jo so that she is believable. She is a bit stubborn with a lot of attitude. Jo could be any high school girl, except for her slight life detour to ancient Egypt. One can only hope that Jo's next journey will be soon in coming.

This book educated me so much about Tut and the 18th dynasy and it was a great read. It was high level reading that taught me new vocabulary words and a great style of writing. Mrs. Berard is an outstanding writer and Tut is a very wonderful book.

This book educated me so much about Tut and the 18th dynasy and it was a great read. It was high level reading that taught me new vocabulary words and a great style of writing. Mrs. Berard is an outstanding writer and Tut is a very wonderful book.

LOVE YA MRS. BERARD!!!! BEST BOOK I EVER READ!!!!

Robin Berard does a great job at painting beautiful pictures with her words. This novel kept me up very late at night, reading and turning the pages until there were no more pages to turn. The Fluency of the words made me actually able to escape to the warm, glowing sands of ancient Egypt. Jo really stands out to me beause she is so like me. She is kind of bored with her life untill she takes a turn into the pages of a book. For me, this was the mysterious book of Nekhare, Tut, and Jo. I felt myself sitting in a theatre, watching a movie with twists, and turns, romance and comedy. I would reccomend this book to middle school and up girls, boys, and young adults.

My three granddaughters, ages 5, 4, and 3 all have made this a favorite book!!! As I've read it to each of them, we've acted it out. We "hold hands," "give bear hugs," sing a song "Jesus Loves Me," and take a bite from the apple on the tree. My daughter-in-law bought me this book when my second granddaughter was born only five months after her cousin.
Since then, we've used it with big and little sister two. This is a very special book. Rose Hall

Exuberant book, beautiful expressive watercolors. Multicultural cast of capable girls climbing trees, digging holes, being brave, getting angry with each other and making up. Minimal text per page. Age 1.5+... my 2.5 y.o daughter really enjoys it. We need more books like this to inspire girls.

I have purchased this book several times as a gift to a young girl when her sister is born. It is also fun to give to adult girlfriends (especially those with daughters). The illustrations are beautiful. It celebrates the joy of having a girlfriend, which is so very important given that girls can be so cruel to each other.

This simple, delightful little book is filled with the most beautiful pictures. The colorful, playful illustrations show little girls playing leap-frog, dancing, flying kits, even arguing and making up. I bought it first for my daughter, and then as a birthday gift from my daughter for the little girl next door. It's a wonderful gift from one little girl to another.

This book caught my eye as a gift for twin girls,and on reading it, It is a catchy, friendly, heartwarming and simple book to share with any little girl - I've bought it for the twins and anothergirlas a gift - seems appropriate for 3-5 year-olds.

I really enjoyed this book and learned from it, but found it less compelling than "A Shining Affliction". Possibly I felt that Rogers was trying very hard to convince me of the validity of Lacanian theory. It felt a tad defensive - as though somehow she was warding off a critical audience in her use of Lacan to understand what some of her patients were going through. And yes, at times the word-play felt a bit excessive and the meaning forced.
However the reason I loved this book and Rogers' work is her ability to tolerate ambiguity and nuance, and find a way into relationship with patients who are desperately alone in their experience and their minds. I always learn from her, and so appreciate her willingness to share the struggle for understanding in the name of healing and connectedness.

I am not an expert in this field.
This book was an introduction to a deep way of thinking about humanity.
About Freud and psychoanalysis.
The book takes the reader through a process. The authors experience, clues, cases, clues, structure, clues. Trusting the reader, Ann Rogers takes the care to let our consciousness unfold. The material and stories of the girls and of her reactions is frightening. Horrifying. Her technique of not blaming the perpetrator nor leaving the victim in the sole role of victim was difficult but at the same time open doors to understanding the past, the behaviors and the future.
I can't recommend it more highly.

I'm a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. I'm just beginning to deal with it at the age of 17. An older friend of mine sent me this book in hopes it would help.
I didn't expect it to help so much.

I went through it with a highlighter, marking all the meaningful, important lines; each page is near fully yellowed.

I read this book in a week. I could not put it down.

Highly, highly recommended--not only for CSA survivors, but for psychologists, and anyone else interested in understanding.

With an emphasis on words and the associations we make with them, Rogers unveils how some children continue to re-experience and re-live past trauma. First, she describes her own childhood crises in a narrative that is both revealing and intimate. She describes her state in ways that allow one to experience it as she had, instead of something simply as foreign and "over with." Then, through example, we follow her as she tries to understand what the children's gestures and words are trying to "say" without their being able to verbalize it. However, she uses the children's own meanings of things (instead of simply standard symbolic meanings) to re-explain to them what has happened and how it continues to persist in their lives, unwittingly. This is what keeps it fresh and real. Moreover, throughout the book, there is an unstated underlying stream of empathy and relatedness. A great book.

It's probably not a coincidence that it is difficult to put into words what Annie has communicated in her book about the hidden language of trauma. Through her entrancing and lyrical use of language, she somehow magically illustrates how the invisible marks of trauma on the body repeatedly surface through the spoken--and more importantly non-spoken--language. In her work with traumatized children, Annie mirrors back traces of their unconscious she remarkably detects in both their words and silences, and ultimately helps the child to give voice to the haunting "unsayable."

Admittedly, I am still trying to process all that was said in this book. And as I do so, I take comfort in Annie's final words of the book when she said: "..if your body in pieces has begun to speak, and if you are now brimming with words and their sounds--and you're no longer sure of what you're hearing or saying...you are the one person I've written this for, the one to whom I entrust these words."

A really good story of Rhiannon a used to be star until she's replaced with a younger actress on her classic TV show. By living in Hollywood to make her show for practically ten years of her life, she isn't real close to parents or anyone, for that matter, that she used to be. She has to work through her family obstacles and try to get over being dumped by her studio and nanny of ten years. Endings better then I expected. So really good read, short and quick!

For several seasons, Rhiannon Melissa Taylor was the star of the popular TV kid show Wing and a Prayer; last year she seemed to be on the cover of every magazine. However, at fifteen she gained teenage weight and recently was fired because with the loss of her cuteness her TV producer considers her as "Little Girl Lard". A humiliated Rhee returns to her family home in Queens.

Rhee must adjust from being the It girl to high school coed except she must elude the paparazzi, who enjoy snapping pictures of those who have fallen in where they are now milieu. She struggles with adjusting to being the ex cover girl princess and wonders if she is one of those child stars that never made it to adult status. While Rhee struggles with being a teen nobody, she fails to notice the conflicts at home. Instead Rhee remains buried in wallow that her life is yesterday's news, her present a disaster, and a future seems zeroed, but her family depends on her bringing in the income.

Rhee makes this young adult tale work as she seems so genuine struggling to adjust from the lights of Hollywood superstardom to borough amidst working class Queens. The story line is intriguing to follow as the weight of the world (or at least her family) is on Rhee's shoulders, but she sees no opportunity to regain all she lost when she fell from grace. Even adjusting to returning to the family fold is a trauma. Fans will enjoy "this rags to riches to rags" tale starring a wonderful teen facing demons and traumas in readapting to a totally new and what seems to her humiliatingly lesser life.

Harriet Klausner

Rhiannon Taylor has been the star of a wing and a Prayer for 6 years. Nine out of ten are likely to watch it each Friday night. It's her 16th birthday. She has a new car. Everything's perfect, right?


Rhiannon has been replaced. The media is writing low stories about her. Her sister is against her. Secrets are going on. If you want to find them out, read this entertaining, but informative book.

Everywhere she goes people already know Rhiannon Taylor. The star from A Wing and a Prayer. Who wouldn't she's everywhere you go? Now she's been fired. This book is serious and funny at the same time. It shows how people really are. But I was expecting more pages.

For years, Rhiannon Melissa Taylor, was the uber-adorable star of the Friday night kids sitcom, Wing and a Prayer, and she was everywhere you looked, magazines, TV, and more. Until, of course, 12 months ago when she gained a bit of teenage weight, and her TV Producer, who now refers to her as "Little Girl Lard," fired her, to bring on someone more cute. Rhee, utterly humiliated by her new nickname, and thoughts of being a child actor has-been, returns home to her family in Queens. Now Rhiannon is forced to face a sickening new truth, heading to a public high school. One that is co-ed. And being forced to allude the paparazzi at all costs, as they try to snap horrible pictures of her new fallen-personality, that will surely grace the covers of every tabloid. But as she's worried about her own problems, Rhee fails to see the fact that her family is falling apart now that she's not bringing home money to support them, which could lead to even bigger problems than being the used-to-be it girl.

As far as first impressions go, it was the magazine-esque cover of THE USED-TO-BE IT GIRL that captured my attention, but it was the plotline, and well-crafted story held within it's pages that kept me engrossed in Rhiannon's story until the very end. Amy Kaye has once again created an amazing teen novel, one that will have fans of teen celebrities the world over realizing what can really happen to their beloved stars once they disappear from the covers of magazines, and TV shows. Overall this was a fantastic novel, one that is sure to become a hit with teens, male or female, of all ages.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

This is a story that takes you back to a time when the Civil War had just ended and slavery has ended as well. Virgie is a young girl who is trying to keep up with her five boys who go to school. She wants to go to school herself. Her brothers tell her things like, "girls don't go to school", "school's too hard", and such. Virgie is a very determined young girl. There is a lot of American history information in the story. It talks about things like, the Quakers, who were a religious group back in this time who had come over to America. This group of people helped out the slaves during this time. The story also talks about Abraham Lincoln, who was against slavery and fought to end slavery during his term. This story goes on to show Virgie in the field with her mother picking pole beans and talks about her stirring soap for her Mama. These were some of the many chores young slave girls were to do during this time. Virgie continues to ask her mother and father if she can go to school. This story is by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard who is telling a story about her grandfather's life during this time. Her grandfather is C.C. in the story.

In VIRGIE GOES TO SCHOOL WITH US BOYS, a young girl is unable to go to school with her six brothers. After much begging, she finally convinces her parents that girls should be able to learn also and reassures them that she can travel the seven miles to the school run by the Quakers. Though one would imagine the journey is rough for a small child, little Virgie keeps up with her brothers and arrives at school with them, ready to learn.

While this story is loosely based on the author's grandfather (one of Virgie's brothers), it symbolizes what many blacks must've felt during the Reconstruction period -- the need to use education as a stepping stone towards freedom. As with a lot of his other books E. B. Lewis uses the watercolor medium for VIRGIE GOES TO SCHOOL WITH US BOYS. His illustrations perfectly complement the story, bringing the reader into each page, and closer to Virgie and her family.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

My children always grow quiet with wonder when I read this tale of Virgie and her brothers, former slaves of the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. To learn to read and write, the boys travel seven miles each week to get to the school founded by Quakers (folks who love the Lord). They slosh through a river with their pail full of food and move silently through a dark wood. Their little sister Virgie longs to learn too and over the summer she lets everyone know it. After months of her prodding, Virgie's parents agree that she too is free and that even little girls needed to learn. Her big brother CC looks out for her on the trip (she falls in the river but doesn't cry) and enjoys her wonder upon seeing the school and the wonderful, beautiful bookcase full of books. "I'm going to read them all," she says touching them lightly. And from the wonderful writing of her descendant who wrote this book, we know that she must have. It's a beautiful story.

?Girls don?t need school.? This is the initial tone for Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys in the beginning. This book is honest with its stereotypes and use of language (considering the time it is set in), yet liberal in it?s moral. This book is sharp in its interpretation of how life was immediately following slavery, yet daring enough to portray life honestly and frank. The illustrations are vivid and clear allowing the reader to perceive Virgie?s(the main character)exact environment. As you read the book, the pictures draw you into the story as if you are another sibling for one of her brothers to pick on. The emotions on each character?s faces are clear as if you can read their minds. The watercolors bring the characters to life right before your eyes and portray life as realistic as a picture. Any child would get lost in the beautiful art in these illustrations, as well as learn a little something about the importance of learning.

Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys is notable for its subject matter and illustrations. The story concerns a young African-American girl in Post-Reconstruction Tennessee who hungers to follow her five older brothers to school; young African-American girls did not typically attend school during this time. The story is told in first person by one of the brothers, who is sympathetic to her cause. (Some of the brothers are against her accompanying them, and their comments add tension to the story--will their predictions come true?) The illustrations, watercolors by E.B. Lewis, provide an engaging yet gentle way into the text. The book provides a story interesting to young school age kids (is it possible that kids could actually yearn to be able to go to school?), and also an avenue to talking about social history. As a linguist, I especially liked the respectful yet accurate depiction of Black English Vernacular, which lends the book an evocative note. The book is 'officially' recommended for ages 4-8. Because of the history theme I would extend that to ten year olds.