Winter's Tide

December 15, 2012
In the latest installment of this series following two very different stepsisters through the seasons, each brings unique gifts and deficits to the task of coping with tough life issues. It's Christmas, but holiday spirit is in short supply. A moment of anger gets Diana suspended from high school. Stephanie, who remembers her stepbrother Matt's drunken threats when she overheard him bragging about stealing beer, dreads encountering him during the obligatory visit to her mother. Then Matt's badly injured in a car accident, and Stephanie's grandmother is hospitalized with pancreatitis. The family heads to the North Carolina shore to care for her home and beloved dog, Jelly. When Jelly takes a dislike to Diana, she's devastated--her self-esteem is founded on her connection with animals--but discovering a beached pilot whale soon distracts her. Stephanie worries about Grammy Verra and feels guilty over wishing harm to Matt. Although both girls continue to seem younger than their stated ages, characterization remains a strong suit. Contrarian, courageous, empathy-challenged Diana struggles with a serious mood disorder. Compassionate, self-aware Stephanie is easily immobilized by anxiety. Demonstrating that less is more and showing trumps telling, the plight of endangered species and the gentle, inclusive message that faith can be an anchor in troubled times are implied, not hammered home. (Fiction. 10-16)

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July 1, 2013

Gr 7-9-Stepsisters Diana and Stephanie live with their recently married parents most of the time but go to their "other" families for weekend visits. Diana, who is having adjustment problems, is compared to Stephanie (the good girl) and resents it. But is Stephanie really the good girl, and why does she dislike her stepbrother Matt so vehemently? When he is involved in a serious automobile accident on Christmas and Stephanie's grandmother is also hospitalized, the girls are finally honest with each other and test their relationship. This bibliotheraputic dream come true will be appreciated by many readers, who will ask for other books in the series because they will want to know more about these believable characters.-Kathy Lyday, South Caldwell High School, NC

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
After years of angst and adjustment, stepsisters Diana and Stephanie are finally growing closer. Their sisterly bond serves them well as they face greater challenges: a grandmother's illness, a brother's car accident, and parents' marital troubles. Although these concluding volumes continue to suffer from clunky dialogue, Kline's continued, consistently realistic attention to the emotional details of this blended family is admirable.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)