Abstract
Reviewed by: The Magic of Melwick Orchard by Rebecca Caprara Karen Coats Caprara, Rebecca The Magic of Melwick Orchard. Carolrhoda, 2018 376p ISBN 978-1-5124-6687-4 $17.99 R Gr. 4-7 Isa has a deep bond with her spunky, language-loving little sister, Junie, so when Junie's bulging "dessert belly" is revealed to be a tumor on her kidney, Isa's world falls apart. Now her father is working long hours, her mother collapses into bed after being with Junie all day, and Isa is feeling completely neglected and invisible. Fortunately, she chances upon a magical tree in a nearby orchard that seems to want to help Isa, and she makes friends with neighbor girl Kira, with whom she shares the magical fruits of the tree. Then Isa's father loses his job and Junie suffers an unexpected setback, pushing Isa to desperate measures and an emotional breaking point. A community of likable and well-drawn major and minor characters provides support for Isa as she negotiates raw emotion with little help from her credibly distracted parents. The emotional responsiveness of the magical tree is a perfect foil for Isa, highlighting the difference between things that can be easily fixed and things that are more complicated. Junie's characterization teeters right on the edge of twee, but it is saved by her genuine linguistic cleverness and her awareness of the show she must put on for her parents if not her sister. Readers who appreciate magical realism will find the premise of the tree intriguing, and they'll enjoy a solid story about the family's emotional rollercoaster and the sisters' love. Copyright © 2018 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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