Sunday, July 1, 2018

The Heart and Mind of Frances Pauley by April Stevens

Cover image for The heart and mind of Frances PauleyFrances is eleven years old and loves to hang out on the rock ledges behind her house.  He is a naturalist at heart and loves to watch the birds that frequent her "rock world."  She also admires the anthropologist Margaret Mead, and fancies herself an observer of people.  Her best friend is the kindly old bus driver, Alvin, and her worst enemy is her own big sister, who is absolutely embarrassed by her little sister's odd behavior. When tragedy strike's Frances' life, she is so bowled over by grief, that she begins to reach outside of the cloistered world in search of comfort and relief from her sadness. 

This is a tender book about grief and growing up with a gentler touch than many current children's realistic fiction.  There is no abuse, crime, dismemberment or addiction involved (though the author did manage to work in a BGLT relationship).  Frances is just a fairly normal girl learning the fairly normally painful lessons of life.  The writing is good, and the characters are well rounded.  This one has potential as a future Mother/Daughter book club book.  (2018, 208 p)

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