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Cummings, Priscilla
6 Reviews
(3)
4-6
When Kate's brother J.T. returns home to their rural Eastern Shore community after a year in juvenile detention, he faces harassment. To protect him, Kate makes a deal with schoolmate Curtis--he will stop bullying J.T. if she does Curtis's assignments--jeopardizing her own schoolwork, her friendships, and her peace of mind. Cummings explores many ethical issues in this introspective companion to Red Kayak.
Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano
(3)
YA
In the sequel to Red Kayak, Michael "Digger" Griswald, fourteen, breaks out of juvenile detention to go home and protect his family from his abusive father. Along the way, he survives a runaway truck, poison ivy, a fire, a brave water rescue, and his first kiss. He also learns what he's running from--and toward. An exciting read and a satisfying ending for a believable character.
Reviewer: Betsy Thomas
(3)
YA
As fourteen-year-old Natalie's sight fails, her parents send her to a school for blind children, where she acquires the skills to cope with her disability. Cummings realistically portrays Natalie's emotional states (from denial to determination) and the day-to-day challenges of a newly blind person, from crossing the street to learning to use adaptive computer technology.
Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano
(3)
4-6
Middle-schooler Brady Parks heroically rescues a little boy involved in a kayaking accident, but triumph turns to tragedy when the boy later dies and Brady realizes that his best friends sabotaged the boat as a spiteful prank. The deliberately paced novel features a strong Chesapeake Bay setting and a thought-provoking moral dilemma as Brady debates whether to turn in his friends.
Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta
(4)
4-6
After her family is evicted from their Washington, D.C., home in 1932, eleven-year-old Grace is sent to a mission and taken in by a well-off family who wants to adopt her. Although predictable, this historical tale (inspired by a real experience) faithfully recounts some of the sacrifices and difficult choices that families had to make to survive during the Great Depression. An author's note is included.
Reviewer: Juliet S. King
(3)
4-6
A car accident leaves sixth-grader Kelley with severe burns on her face and hands. The physical pain, however, seems insignificant compared to the trauma she feels when she finally sees her ravaged face in a mirror. Cummings believably and sympathetically limns Kelley's rage and withdrawal from the world and her ultimate reemergence with inner reserves of strength and a newly discovered talent for drawing.
Reviewer: Carolyn Shute
6 reviews
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