Synopsis:
Smart and savvy Melissa Jensen’s life takes a wrong turn when her father accepts a teaching assignment in a small town in the remote Midwest, far from her home in New York City.
From School Library Journal:
Grade 7-10-Anti-Semitism is the dominant theme in this contrived high-school romance story. Melissa Jensen, a 4.0 student at an exclusive academy in New York City, moves to Henryville, MO, when her father, a famous playwright, is offered a teaching position at a small college for the year. The culture shock surprisingly delights Melissa as she eyes Chris, the football captain, as future date material. That is until she meets Daniel, a fellow violinist and actor. He, however, will not look in her direction because he is unaware that Melissa is Jewish. As the only known Jew in town, he receives the brunt of anti-Semitic rhetoric. Finally, toward the end of the novel, Melissa tells Chris that she, too, is Jewish. She ends up going to the prom with Daniel. Chris defends freedom of religion. And everyone lives happily ever after. The characterizations are shallow and predictable. However, the message is adequately addressed. A routine read that touches on important issues of prejudice.
Malka Keck, The Temple Tifereth Israel, Beachwood, OH
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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