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Rorby, Ginny
4 Reviews
(3)
4-6
When Lily's autistic, mute younger brother Adam makes a connection with a sick dolphin at a theme park, it seems like a breakthrough--until Lily and her friend Zoe see that the captive dolphin's situation is the result of animal cruelty. The novel is brave and unflinching as it confronts difficult topics such as coping with disability, accepting a parent's death, and standing up for animal rights.
Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto
(4)
YA
Sarah, a scholarship student who feels like an outcast at her new private school, distances herself from her classmates during a field trip to the Everglades, with near-disastrous results. Rorby suspensefully captures the otherworldly atmosphere of this singular setting; somewhat less successful is the forced-seeming social commentary. Nevertheless, it's an exciting read.
Reviewer: Norah Piehl
(4)
YA
When Hannah's father comes home from fighting in Iraq, she hardly recognizes the shell-shocked, chronically pained man. Perhaps therapy with the nearby horses will help; but, as Hannah comes to realize, the horses have undergone their own share of trauma. The text, which is a little emotionally overwrought, doesn't shy away from its depiction of violence toward animals.
Reviewer: Norah Piehl
(3)
4-6
After befriending baby chimpanzee Sukari and her kindly caretaker, thirteen-year-old Joey, deaf since she was six, learns to sign--against her mother's wishes. Complex characters and a humanizing exploration of diverse issues make this a rewarding and rarely didactic read. The broad timespan forces Rorby to abandon some promising tangents, but the story nevertheless inspires an awareness of animal rights.
Reviewer: Claire E. Gross
4 reviews
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