Marilyn SachsCritiques

A collection of short stories written by multiple well-know authors.

Classic '80s middle grade novel. It had all the things I liked about these books: light, character-driven, doesn't move too quickly, quirky. The main character is allowed to be "young" for her age (she's unsophisticated, she sits on her dad's lap when she's upset.) In a complete throwaway moment, she bravely catches a thief! The coolest thing she can wear is a sweater with a boat collar. Aaaaand the man who lives upstairs whom the MC has a crush on is a total perv who's grooming her. The writer knows it, the reader knows it, and luckily the MC figures it out. But it's presented as no big deal, of course she can keep on babysitting for his child. And that's what it was like in the '80s; you kids today don't know how good you have it.

Full disclosure: I bought this book simply because it had one of Maurice Sendak's Wild Things on the cover, and completely unaware of the contents, so this review may be a little scattered. Obviously Sendak was involved in the production of this book, contributing a lovely illustration of a simpler world full of fun and adventure, but most of the authors and illustrators were unfamiliar to me. Published in 1990, as the world was coming down from the highs of the Cold War, but still seeing an increase in violence and strige worldwide, the collection is a manifesto promoting cooperation, understanding, and of course peace among humankind. We see examples of cultures coming together ("There is an Island"), people peaefully protesting for their rights ("The Bus for Deadhorse"), and an example of peaceful coexistence from the animal world ("The Birds' Peace") to name a few of my favourite examples. For what is on the surface a simple children's book of tales, I was surprised at how deeply many of the stories tackle a historical narrative. Engaging with themes of American nationalism, racism, and isolationis a tricky thing to do for publishers, but this risk has paid off to make the book highly engaging. Since its publication it doesn't seem like humanity has come very far in becoming more peaceful, so may it is time to revisit this publishing concept and do another BIGGER book for peace!

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It felt hopeful, but it ended in the middle of the war. It's a different WWII story.

The ending is so sad. It was a quick read, and it has a good reminder for dreaming authors.

Peace is very important in the world in which we live. Anyone who has been hurt in a quarrel or a fight or watched TV news or read a newspaper knows that. This profound book looks at the idea of peace in many multifaceted ways. In fantasy tales and present-day stories, some funny and some serious. In true incidents, some that happened in the past and some that are happening right now. In poems, pictures, and even song. The pictures in this book fit really nicely with the text.

A collection of short stories written by multiple well-know authors. This book is a good resource to have for short story reading to use during rest time. It has less pictures than a picture book per story.

Filled with stories, pictures, poems, and even a song, it is a book about many
kinds of peace.

Laura is a couple weeks shy of turning twelve, and is headed for camp for the first time due to a family crisis. Despite her unhappiness Laura is determined to be a "good sport" but the situation deteriorates until she winds up in the infirmary. Why can't she just enjoy her vacation like her younger sister Amy is doing?

Well done story by an author whose other works I thoroughly enjoy, and this one is not an exception. Like Beverly Cleary, Marilyn Sachs has truly captured childhood and pre-teen angst without subjecting us to all the whining found in other works of this genre.

Peace--the issue of our times--affects everyone, but especially children, who deserve and wish for a peaceful future. This book contains 17 stories about peace from some of the best-loved authors and illustrators for children.

When her twin sisster begins to assert her individuality and her grandmother suddenly dies, 13-year-old Dezzy finds some comfort in her relationships with her grandfather and a new friend and in an interest in the environment.

I read this book when I was a child. I loved it. It would be fun to find this book again and re-read it. I wonder if I'd like it as much?

Meh. Sorry.

One of my favorite books about the "camping experience"

Rebecca's mother is a writer, which Rebecca finds frustrating because the main characters in her mother;s books always seem to resemble her in some way. Rebecca is relieved when her mother begins her fourteenth book, which will be a romance. There is no romance in her life. In the beginning of the book anyway. Sachs works hard to have a romantic lead that is not stereotypical, which is laudable. But, the character seems forced and he is not the only one. So is the mystery about his dad's whereabouts. This book is not worth adding or keeping in a collection.

Stuck in the middle of trying to be a kid and taking care of her baby sister, Fran fantasizes about being the one to earn her teacher's beloved bear house. But Fran just knows she won't because she smells bad and no one likes her. Her teacher digs a little deeper in to fran's life and discovers that Fran has no competent adult caring for her at home. Her teacher realizes that Fran needs the bears' house more than anyone else.

This book has a really good story line although it does not have much of a plot. I was entertained throughout the whole book!

This book has a really good story line although it does not have much of a plot. I was entertained throughout the whole book!

Amy and Laura are excited: after almost a year, their mother will be coming home from the hospital! But things are not the same, their mother is in a wheelchair, and their father has forbidden them from saying or doing anything that might upset her. To make matters worse, Amy's teacher "hates" her, and the school bully has set her sights on Laura!

I enjoy stories about children that are truly about how they act, and feel, and Marilyn Sachs is an author who captures what it is like to be an adolescent. Enjoyable read.

Jessica is 10, and her best friend for the past five years, Wendy, no longer wants to be her friend. Jessica is hurt, and wants to still be friends with Wendy, despite Wendy's open mockery and cruelty.

But then the notes begin to show up, addressed to Jessica, and signed "ASF", A Secret Friend...

On the surface this appears to be standard fare, but the author knows children well, turning this from a run-of-the-mill children's story into something much better.½