More Than a Name

When her mother remarries, eight-year-old Cammie feels awkward with her new stepfather and being part of a new large family.

When Cammie Bradley's mother remarries, the eight-year-old must cope with a number of distressing changes-a new town, a new school and even her stepfather's gentle teasing. (Cammie also bears the hurt from knowing that her biological father left the family years ago and hasn't been heard from since.) The youngster thinks that if she wins the school's essay contest, her stepfather will realize that she's special enough to be his daughter-and he'll adopt her so that the entire family will have the same last name. Ransom (Ladies and Jellybeans) blends a '50s sentimentality with what has become an almost commonplace contemporary phenomenon-remarriage. She addresses Cammie's recognizable concerns-her longing for familial solidarity and an abiding need for acceptance among her peer group-with true-to-life characterizations and a dose of gentle humor. Ages 7-10.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 3^-5, younger for reading aloud. When her mother remarries, eight-year-old Cammie finds she must make adjustments in her own life, too. She and her mother move to a different house; Cammie must ride a bus to her new school, and she feels overwhelmed by her stepfather Mike's large family. Although she likes Mike, she is unsure of his feelings for her. She wonders why he doesn't offer to adopt her so that their names can be the same and they can be a "real family." Luckily for Cammie, all her insecurities prove to be misunderstandings, paving the way for a happily-ever-after ending. Ransom's strength lies in her attention to Cammie's feelings in this all-too-common situation. The story works because it is told from Cammie's point of view--making the many miscommunications believable. Although not every stepchild's problems can be solved so easily, younger readers will appreciate the story's upbeat tone and a chance to read about a family that works. Kay Weisman