BOOK REVIEWS Chapter Books Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee. Illustrated by Tony Fucile. Candlewick Press, 2012. 88 pp. $6.99. Ages 6–9. Reviewed by Callie Feyen What’s better than wildly cute socks, stacks of pancakes, and an afternoon of roller-skating? A friend who shares these treasures with you. Meet Bink and Gollie: the loveliest of friends. Bink is short with wild blond hair, and Gollie is tall with a neat brown bob. They do things like rollerblading around town and stumbling upon a Sock Bonanza, or ice-skating on a frozen pond, holding hands after declaring each other the most marvelous companions of all. Sometimes, though, they don’t see eye to eye. Like when Bink picks out a pair of socks that are so bright they pain Gollie. Or when Gollie needs to go on an adventure—in her room—and implores everyone not to interrupt her journey. Bink doesn’t understand the word “implore” and knocks away at Gollie’s door. The two adorable girls have their mishaps, but readers will see that even though they and their friends might not always see eye to eye, nothing beats having a buddy to grow up with. Pass the pancakes. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Vivien Bowers. Gary D. Schmidt. HMH Books for Young Readers, reissue 2013. 224 pp. $6.99. Ages 9–12. Reviewed by Susan Schmitt In a small town in Maine in 1912, the son of the new preacher learns firsthand about bullying, racism, and downright meanness. How he handles this cruelty and unfairness provides lessons to old and young about tolerance and patience. As soon as they arrive in Phippsburg, the Buckminsters notice differences from other towns where they have served. The characters are so well drawn that one can almost feel the breeze as a baseball whizzes past Turner for the third time while everyone laughs. No matter what he does, young Turner is watched, gossiped about, and ostracized by the townspeople. When he meets Lizzie, who lives in the little town of Malaga, the deacons and parishioners of the Congregational Church are astounded that he would befriend an African-American girl from the slums. What the cruel people in his community do to the Buckminster family is hard to imagine, yet they remain steady in their faith and eventually teach the townspeople some lessons about reaching out to help others, turning the other cheek, and sharing their faith. The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Spear. HMH Books for Young Readers, 1997. 254 pp. $14.90. Ages 8–12. Reviewed by Susan Schmitt This Newbery Award winner for young adults is intense and carries a strong message about faith. Set in Israel during the time of Jesus, this is the story of Daniel, who is full of anger and hatred toward the Romans who have crucified his father. His sister Leah is so terrified by the violence she has witnessed that she is afraid to leave their home; in fact, she has developed “demons” that manifest themselves as mental illness. Leah has admitted to befriending Marcus, a Roman soldier whom Daniel hates and threatens to kill. Leah becomes so sick that her life is in danger. Their friends Joel and Thacia have told them about Jesus, and Daniel is eager to meet him, primarily as a potential instrument in his desire for vengeance, though this attitude will change. When Joel and Thacia bring Jesus to see Leah (and hopefully cure her), Daniel learns firsthand the gentleness and mercy of the Master and eventually invites Leah’s friend Marcus into their home. Jesus’ impact on the four young people is dramatic. Even though the themes of revenge and violence are present, the overriding messages are of forgiveness, mercy, and the importance of family. 34 Christian Home & School | www.csionline.org