BOOKS:Visiting Miss Caples/When the Bough Breaks

[Cindy Mitchell <cmitchell@M.SJMS.JORDAN.K12.UT.US>]

Visiting Miss Caples by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel.  Dial Books 2000.  ISBN
0803725027
When the Bough Breaks by Anna Myers.  Walker & COmpany 2000.  ISBN
0802787258

I included these two together, because they revolve around the same
theme:  a younger persons trials echoed in the experiences of an older
person they have come in contact with.

In _Visiting Miss Caples_, Elspeth has to read to a shut-in woman each
week for a school community service project.  Instead of reading,
Elspeth finds herself pouring out her problems to the old woman, whose
attitude starts to thaw.  Miss Caples sees that Elspeth is on the same
troubled road that she went down before and she tries to share her
experiences with Elspeth to keep her from making the same, tragic,
mistakes.
--Elspeth's dilemma is a typical one for teenagers who grow apart from
their friends.  I enjoyed seeing the interaction between the two
generations.  Middle school girls will enjoy this book if steered
towards it.


Ophelia, in _When the Bough Breaks_, has jumped from foster family to
foster family, trying to escape her history -- her mother, father, and
brother all died on the same day.  She is asked by her foster mother
to visit an elderly shut-in and read to her each week.  Ophelia is
terrified that someone from her new school will discover her past,
forcing her to move on.  But this time, her case worker has said it is
her last chance.  Portia McKay, the elderly neighbor, has terible
secrets in her own past, which have kept her from inviting the world
into her home.  As unlikely as a friendship may be between the two, it
may be the last chance they have to find peace.
--Middle School girls will love this one!

Cindy Mitchell

--


Cindy Mitchell
Media Coordinator
South Jordan Middle School
10245 S 2700 W
South Jordan UT  84095
(801)412-2900
FAX  (801)412-2930
cmitchell@m.sjms.jordan.k12.ut.us

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