Sketches From a Spy Tree (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Sketches from a Spy Tree Deborah Stevenson Zimmer, Tracie Vaughn Sketches from a Spy Tree; illus. by Andrew Glass. Clarion, 2005 [64p] ISBN 0-618-23479-9$16.00 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 4-6 It's two years since Anne Marie's father left the family—Anne Marie and her twin, Mary Anne, their younger sister, and their mom. Anne Marie still misses her dad, and she's finding it hard to accept Mike, her father's business partner, whom her mother is marrying. This sequence of free-verse poems traces a year in Anne Marie's life, in which she observes the various personages of her neighborhood, describes her family and friends, and, slowly, begins to let go of her resentment for her new stepfather and rejoice in her new baby half-sister. The view of the neighborhood is nostalgic, and it's not surprising that Anne Marie eventually embraces her new family, but this is still an appealing and sometimes lyrical poem sequence. The warmth is palpable, and it ensures that the story of Anne Marie's uncertainty remains gentle and reassuring; the detailed specifics and the retrospective charm may well encourage adults to share the reading or make an opportunity to read this aloud. Glass employs the rough-and-tumble lines and preponderance of orange tints (the twins are redheads) that typify his picture-book illustrations, but he's creatively softened the tall-tale edges without losing the particularity and impact of his images; textures of the oil paints vary, and occasional photographic elements add crispness. While this doesn't quite have the resonance of Vera B. Williams' similarly themed free-verse narrative Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart (BCCB 9/01), the enticing layout and friendly text will invite exploration from poetic young readers. Copyright © 2005 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois