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 Here Today(Scholastic Press) by Ann Martin Reading Level: Young Adult Expecting a good story from Newberry Honor author Ann Martin (A Corner of the Universe), one is not disappointed in Here Today. Once again she tackles sensitive family issues with a heroine whose challenges in life tug at our heartstrings. Eleanor Roosevelt Dingman (Ellie) is a 6th grader and oldest of the three siblings whose mother abandons them in search of pursuing her dream to become a famous actress. The year is 1963 and the Kennedy assignation and a series of related events, including her obsession with Jacqueline Kennedy, trigger Mrs. Dingman's flight. The first half of the book leads up to this moment as well as painting a picture of Ellie's already somewhat dismal life with only one friend (also unpopular) and the abuse they suffer from the "in-crowd." The fact that they both live on Witch Tree Lane, the neighborhood of undesirables and last stop on the school bus route does not help their situation. The last half of the book allows us to see how Ellie copes both with taunts at school and life at home with no Mother. Although she and her Dad manage to keep the day to day household running for themselves and the younger children, the emotional trauma of being shunned both at school and by her own mother presents challenges that cause Ellie to grow in ways she least expected. It's an interesting plot with believable characters -- and a realistic ending that is not necessarily happy ever after, but one that has us applauding Ellie for how she handles what life throws her and embraces the best of it.— Vy Armour, Member SCBWI
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