Scattergood

At the start of this WWII novel by Bouwman (Gossamer Summer), almost-13-year-old Peggy makes three secret promises to herself: find a cure for her 14-year-old cousin Delia's leukemia; become irresistible to "swoony" 16-year-old German-Jewish Gunther, recently arrived at Scattergood, the nearby Quaker hostel for Jewish refugees; and make something exciting happen for herself. Set in a small Iowa farming community and beginning in June 1941, the novel delves into Peggy's attempts to pursue those goals while pondering life's unfairness, including why science can't give her the answers she needs to help Delia. Especially strong are the depictions of daily farm routines, from the milking of grateful cows to collecting eggs from begrudging chickens. Equally effective is Peggy's somewhat naive but thoughtful, determined voice as she tries to process Delia's diagnosis ("Up to six months. Was that how long Delia was going to be sick? Or worse...") and befriends a gruff Dutch-Jewish professor at Scattergood, who teaches her to play chess while recounting frightening tales from the Old Testament. A steady narrative pace and a variety of secondary characters who inspire questions in Peggy solidify the book's overall appeal. All characters present as white. Ages 10-up. (Jan.)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 4-7--It's 1941, and 12-year-old Iowa farm girl Peggy holds a terrible secret: her cousin and best friend, Delia, has terminal leukemia, and Delia isn't allowed to know. The adults in their lives don't want Delia to spend her last few months of life worrying about death. Rational and hardworking, Peggy endeavors to find a cure for Delia, from researching at the public library to reciting nightly prayers. Meanwhile, the war in Europe feels closer to home as the Quaker residents in town reopen Scattergood School to serve as a hostel for refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. Peggy's curiosity takes her to Scattergood. She winds up befriending some residents, including the Professor, a Dutch chess enthusiast, and Gunther, a handsome German teenager. As Delia grows weaker, Peggy must learn how to continue living in spite of her grief and to support those around her dealing with their own losses. The descriptions of Peggy's life on the farm are seamlessly woven into the narrative, anchoring it to the rural Midwestern setting. The tone is somber overall, peppered liberally with Peggy's wry observations. There are a few melodramatic scenes, including an injury with an axe and an alcohol-induced car accident. Secondary characters are fully developed and are not reduced to moral lessons. Through Peggy's strong support system, Bouwman depicts small town life at its best. Characters are assumed white; the residents of Scattergood read as Jewish. An author's note concludes. VERDICT A powerful coming-of-age story about life, loss, and community.--Hannah Grasse

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

An engaging, textured, and deeply humane coming-of-age novel.