Full disclosure: I love the All-of-a-Kind Family! I wish I could be part of the All-of-a-Kind Family! That said, (the reissue of) this book, the second in the series, does not disappoint in any way, even a full sixty years after its original publication. This book follows the further adventures of the five sisters and one little brother of the All-of-a-Kind family, and their extended family and friends. This time, the plots include a romance between Uncle Hyman and “greenhorn” Lena and another romance between oldest daughter, Ella, and Jules. There’s the polio epidemic that sweeps through New York City and ends up touching one of the book’s central characters in a major way. There’s the move from the Lower East Side up to the Bronx, which ends the book. And throughout, there are all the Jewish customs to savor and the holidays to celebrate together. Mostly the story is a quiet one, comprised of a series of small, intimate, and lovely moments—the book is old-fashioned in the best sense. Overall, it’s awfully hard to resist the charm of this early twentieth-century family. Highly recommended for ages 8-12.
No comments:
Post a Comment