Thoughts before reading:
This is one of the Dawn books I never read growing up. It really doesn't even look familiar to me at all, so it must be one my library didn't have. The plot sounds sort of average, but it could be a sweet book. Either way, I'm still curious to read a new Dawn book. Kid me would have been thrilled to discover this.
Also, really cute cover. I love Dawn's hair on this one. It's not light enough for how they describe it in the books, but it really never is.
The basics:
The kids at Stoneybrook Elementary School are doing a pen pal program called Pens Across America with an elementary school in New Mexico. Their pen pals are Zunis, a Native American tribe. All the kids are really into the program, and becoming friends quickly. They are heartbroken when they learn that the Zuni kids have lost their school in a fire, and some of them have also lost homes. Dawn hears about the tragedy too and wants to help somehow.
Dawn can't stop thinking about the Zuni families, and she finally comes up with the idea to hold a fundraiser for them, plus a food and clothing drive. Since she never went to SES herself (she moved to Stoneybrook in 7th grade, remember), and doesn't know any of the teachers there, she decides to contact Jeff's old teacher, Ms. Besser. She listens to Dawn's idea and loves it, promising to spread the word and get the ball rolling. The whole BSC also wants to help, and they decide to throw a big sleepover as a reward for all the kids who participate, as incentive.
The kids are tasked with coming up with their own fundraising ideas, to mixed results. Haley Braddock gives out psychic readings, the Pike kids have a backyard carnival, and the Rodowsky boys have a yard sale. Some problems do arise though, as kids start donating items to the drive without permission from their parents. One boy even donates his dad's brand new suit. The BSC ends up requiring permission slips for all items.
In the end though, they do raise enough money for the kids in New Mexico to have their school re-built. The sleepover is also a success, just chaotic, and the Stoneybrook kids receive letters thanking them for all the food and clothing donations.
Timeline:
No clues, and follows the usual pattern of taking a few weeks to a month for the book's events.
My thoughts:
This wasn't a bad book, but ultimately there just wasn't a lot going on in here. It was a sweet story, and a nice one for kids to read and learn about the spirit of giving. Despite the message though, it was just very monotonous to read now. The whole book was basically just fundraising ventures and babysitting chapters. It felt like filler, without anything deeper going on. There was no character development, or really any relationship dynamics at all. I still can't really say anything bad about it, because this really is the kind of story about empathy, giving, and generosity that I'd want my own kids to read. It succeeds in teaching about these valuable things without being too heavy handed or coming across like an after school special.
Plus, I can't lie, I did get a little emotional reading this. There was a scene that made me tear up a bit. At the big sleepover, this little second grader asks Dawn if his pen pal will get to eat dinner again now. Dawn's touched and assures him that the Zuni kids will have plenty to eat now. The boy is relieved and tells Dawn she's the nicest girl he's ever met (pgs 123-124). Sniff sniff.
Misc:
*Ghostwritten by Peter Lerangis
*This book mentions Alan Gray putting yellow m&ms over his eyes and saying he was Little Orphan Annie again. I finally tried to figure out what the hell this means, since it gets mentioned a fair amount. Apparently in the original comic strips, her eyes were blank. It was the artist's signature of sorts, leaving the reader to interpret the character's moods themselves. Makes much more sense!
*Ms. Besser asks Dawn if she wouldn't mind staying the exact same age for a few years until she has a child needing a sitter! (pg 127) Woah, is this a joke/nod to the eternal 13 year old's? Peter Lerangis has a sense of humor!
Books mentioned:
*Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
*Freddy the Pig book series, by Walter R. Brooks
*Make Way For Ducklings, by Robert McCloskey
*One Morning in Maine, by Robert McCloskey
My rating:
3 stars: average now, but highly recommend for young readers.
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