Somewhere Green

Mango, Karin N.

ISBN 10: 0027622703 ISBN 13: 9780027622706

Publisher: Atheneum

Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Bryony has difficulty coping with her family's move from the country to a Brooklyn brownstone, particularly when her parents leave on an expedition and Bryony is mugged

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Grade 5-7 Soon after the Hicks family's move to Brooklyn from a rural area in upstate New York, the parents leave to do anthropological research in Brazil for three months. The three children are left with a housekeeper who quits after a week. Rather than tell anyone, they decide to cope on their own. The problems that result are believable and interesting as are the children's solutions and the changes in their coping mechanisms and personalities. The most remarkable transformation is 16-year-old Bryony's change from anger and sadness resulting from her feelings of being abandoned to the realization and acceptance of the fact that people can not always control all facets of their lives. The characterizations are plausible, if a little exaggerated. Bryony's romance with the boy next door is refreshing in its wholesomeness: they are affectionate but choose not to have sex because it is not the right time for them. This is a compelling book, although the inclusion of ``something for everyone''the traumatic move; the older sister who is vague about everything save her monomania (botany); an ethnically mixed neighborhood; a stray dog that adopts the family; and romanceis a little forced. Young readers will not notice this fault and in fact might enjoy all the extras. Janet E. Gelfand, Lawrence Junior High School, N.Y.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly:

Bryony, 16, has a lot of adjusting to do, having recently moved from a small rural town to a crumbling brownstone in Brooklyn. Additionally, her parents are off on an extended anthropological project in the Amazon. She is left to cope in the sweltering summer heat in a ethnically mixed neighborhood with a dreamily preoccupied older sister, a curious and not yet street-wise younger brother and a new housekeeper who quits ahead of schedule. Household chores are only one set of problemsthreatening gangs and muggings are another. A new Puerto Rican friend awakens feelings of sexuality in Bryony, and that adds to her general confusion. Mango's strong characterizations, particularly the complex Bryony, are evocative and revealing. The contrasting "types" that make up a big-city neighborhood are wonderfully drawn, providing a rich backdrop for this story. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Atheneum
• ISBN 10: 0027622703
• ISBN 13: 9780027622706
• Binding: Library Binding
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 202