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The Summer We Found the Baby
Set during World War II, this poignant, briskly paced historical novel relays the events of one extraordinary summer from three engaging points of view.
On the morning of the dedication of the new children's library in Belle Beach, Long Island, eleven-year-old Julie Sweet and her six-year-old sister, Martha, find a baby in a basket on the library steps. At the same time, twelve-year-old Bruno Ben-Eli is on his way to the train station to catch the 9:15 train into New York City. He is on an important errand for his brother, who is a soldier overseas in World War II. But when Bruno spies Julie, the same Julie who hasn't spoken to him for sixteen days, heading away from the library with a baby in her arms, he has to follow her. Holy everything, he thinks. Julie Sweet is a kidnapper.
Of course, the truth is much more complicated than the children know in this heartwarming and beautifully textured family story by award-winning author Amy Hest. Told in three distinct voices, each with a different take on events, the novel captures the moments and emotions of a life-changing summer -- a summer in which a baby gives a family hope and brings a community together.
On the morning of the dedication of the new children's library in Belle Beach, Long Island, eleven-year-old Julie Sweet and her six-year-old sister, Martha, find a baby in a basket on the library steps. At the same time, twelve-year-old Bruno Ben-Eli is on his way to the train station to catch the 9:15 train into New York City. He is on an important errand for his brother, who is a soldier overseas in World War II. But when Bruno spies Julie, the same Julie who hasn't spoken to him for sixteen days, heading away from the library with a baby in her arms, he has to follow her. Holy everything, he thinks. Julie Sweet is a kidnapper.
Of course, the truth is much more complicated than the children know in this heartwarming and beautifully textured family story by award-winning author Amy Hest. Told in three distinct voices, each with a different take on events, the novel captures the moments and emotions of a life-changing summer -- a summer in which a baby gives a family hope and brings a community together.
181 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2020
37 people are currently reading
399 people want to read
About the author
Amy Hest
107 books87 followersAmy Hest is a three-time winner of the Christopher Medal and winner of the BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. She lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
September 5, 2020
I am clearly in the minority here, but I did not enjoy this book at all. The premise interested me, but the story diverges after the premise to go into three different characters' flashbacks, random reflections, and stories about different things that had happened to them. The main plot comes together at the end, but the book is full of irrelevant material, and every single line of dialogue is written in all caps, with no quotation marks. This stylistic choice irritated me to no end, and even though it could have been passable as one character's voice or way of thinking about things, all three of the children both remember and experience dialogue as SHE SAID THIS IRRELEVANT THING IN ALL CAPS EVEN THOUGH SHE WASN'T SCREAMING AND IT IS JUST A RANDOM COMMENT THAT NEEDS NO EMPHASIS.
I enjoyed some aspects of this story, since I cared about the subplot related to the older brother who was fighting in WWII, but the end of the story is extremely predictable, and also raises lots of unanswered questions. This middle grade novel is a weird, self-consciously literary hodgepodge of elements, and I do not ever want to read it again. Perhaps I shouldn't write it off as a potential recommendation, since the majority of readers clearly did like this, but I know that I would have found this story even more frustrating when I was the target age for it, and I don't want to recommend a book that I found unsatisfying and incoherent.
I enjoyed some aspects of this story, since I cared about the subplot related to the older brother who was fighting in WWII, but the end of the story is extremely predictable, and also raises lots of unanswered questions. This middle grade novel is a weird, self-consciously literary hodgepodge of elements, and I do not ever want to read it again. Perhaps I shouldn't write it off as a potential recommendation, since the majority of readers clearly did like this, but I know that I would have found this story even more frustrating when I was the target age for it, and I don't want to recommend a book that I found unsatisfying and incoherent.
August 13, 2024
I worked in a video store when Spike Lee's 1999 Summer of Sam came out and heard many complaints that it wasn't the serial killer movie people were expecting. It really wasn't; it was about the entire summer of 1977 in New York, with a heat wave, a blackout, the Yankees, the emergence of punk, characters struggling with sexual liberation, and yes also how the city was affected by the existence of a hidden killer. It's all right there in the title.
This book has a similarly accurate title. It opens with the discovery of a baby. It then frustratingly doesn't tell you anything more about the baby! Instead it goes back to relate many of that summer's events out of sequence. Julie, 11, and her boldly innocent little sister Martha, 5, are "summer people" from New York staying in a beach town next door to permanent resident Bruno, 12, and his family. The book rotates through their three first-person POVs, relating the events of interest to them that summer while World War II is going on and Roosevelt is president. It's marvelously done, telling much more than the characters understand in the moment. It's about missing family members, living with grief, wartime, the challenging period between true childhood and puberty, and all manner of relationships formed across a lifetime. And eventually, finally, it's about this goddamn baby the kids find on the steps to the library, thank you.
I have to chuckle at all the reviews that are like, WHY IS THE DIALOGUE IN ALL CAPS? It's a simple innovation that I found utterly fitting, denoting the significance of things said to a child's mind, whether they disdain or embrace the messages. It highlights the interplay between a child's internal life and external communication. I found it a perfectly appropriate stylistic choice in this context.
This was on my TBR for some time, specifically my "For Later" list on my library's website, but I have no idea what originally prompted me to put it there!
This book has a similarly accurate title. It opens with the discovery of a baby. It then frustratingly doesn't tell you anything more about the baby! Instead it goes back to relate many of that summer's events out of sequence. Julie, 11, and her boldly innocent little sister Martha, 5, are "summer people" from New York staying in a beach town next door to permanent resident Bruno, 12, and his family. The book rotates through their three first-person POVs, relating the events of interest to them that summer while World War II is going on and Roosevelt is president. It's marvelously done, telling much more than the characters understand in the moment. It's about missing family members, living with grief, wartime, the challenging period between true childhood and puberty, and all manner of relationships formed across a lifetime. And eventually, finally, it's about this goddamn baby the kids find on the steps to the library, thank you.
I have to chuckle at all the reviews that are like, WHY IS THE DIALOGUE IN ALL CAPS? It's a simple innovation that I found utterly fitting, denoting the significance of things said to a child's mind, whether they disdain or embrace the messages. It highlights the interplay between a child's internal life and external communication. I found it a perfectly appropriate stylistic choice in this context.
This was on my TBR for some time, specifically my "For Later" list on my library's website, but I have no idea what originally prompted me to put it there!
January 8, 2021
This sweet novel proves that sometimes children’s books are wasted on children. That’s not a curmudgeonly attack on kids; it’s just that there are children’s books in which only adults can pick up on the nuances. Amy Hest’s The Summer We Found the Baby is such a book.
It would be too easy to reveal too much. Just let me say that when headstrong 11-year-old Julie discovers a foundling in a basket at the public library she snatches it up and makes off with it, followed by her 6-year-old sister Martha and her nemesis, 12-year-old Bruno. Each of the children take turns advancing the plot. The book provides more surprises than I ever imagined; it’s one I’ll long remember.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.
It would be too easy to reveal too much. Just let me say that when headstrong 11-year-old Julie discovers a foundling in a basket at the public library she snatches it up and makes off with it, followed by her 6-year-old sister Martha and her nemesis, 12-year-old Bruno. Each of the children take turns advancing the plot. The book provides more surprises than I ever imagined; it’s one I’ll long remember.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2020
Why is the dialogue in all caps? I felt like I was being yelled at the whole time and IT WAS VERY STRESSFUL.
September 1, 2020
THE SUMMER WE FOUND THE BABY is one of those books where what’s not said on the page is as important as what is. A girl and her sister find a baby. A boy follows them. How they’re connected and why the girls feel drawn to the baby changes tells a moving story that I know I won’t soon forget.
One point-of-view is from Martha Sweet, the younger sister of Julie, who first finds the baby. Martha is sweet, enthusiastic, and energetic. She doesn’t always understand what’s going on around her, but she loves the people in her little community.
Julie also tells part of the story, and in her sections, we see a girl trying to be so much more than she is, and determined to do it perfectly. She cares for her little sister while their dad works, possibly interviewing soldiers at a local military base. And then there’s Bruno, a boy whose older brother has gone to war, leaving him behind.
The story begins with the three finding the baby and loops backward, to tell us how they came to be on the steps of the library that morning and why the baby was there.
It’s such a sweet, heartfelt story. I love that what’s on the page hints at so many things that aren’t there, things that the narrators probably wouldn’t have pieced together. It’s a really quick read, too– I think I read it in a little over an hour.
I think fans of STAY WHERE YOU ARE AND THEN LEAVE by John Boynton or PAX by Sarah Pennypacker will enjoy this book– though it’s a bit less dark than those stories.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
One point-of-view is from Martha Sweet, the younger sister of Julie, who first finds the baby. Martha is sweet, enthusiastic, and energetic. She doesn’t always understand what’s going on around her, but she loves the people in her little community.
Julie also tells part of the story, and in her sections, we see a girl trying to be so much more than she is, and determined to do it perfectly. She cares for her little sister while their dad works, possibly interviewing soldiers at a local military base. And then there’s Bruno, a boy whose older brother has gone to war, leaving him behind.
The story begins with the three finding the baby and loops backward, to tell us how they came to be on the steps of the library that morning and why the baby was there.
It’s such a sweet, heartfelt story. I love that what’s on the page hints at so many things that aren’t there, things that the narrators probably wouldn’t have pieced together. It’s a really quick read, too– I think I read it in a little over an hour.
I think fans of STAY WHERE YOU ARE AND THEN LEAVE by John Boynton or PAX by Sarah Pennypacker will enjoy this book– though it’s a bit less dark than those stories.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 17, 2020
Wow. What a little treasure! If the great title doesn't capture the reader then the short chapters with alternating narrators certainly will. The story is told in snippets and goes back and forth in time during a summer on Long Island during WWII. Unlike some historical fiction for kids, this one doesn't get bogged down in vernacular and really lengthy-- HEY THIS IS FROM ANOTHER TIME PERIOD SO LET ME REALLY REALLY MAKE THAT CLEAR IN A MYRIAD OF WAYS THAT WILL TURN OFF A TEN YEAR OLD.
Nope, not this one. It has humor, suspense and I believe will be very relatable to this age group.
Nope, not this one. It has humor, suspense and I believe will be very relatable to this age group.
December 5, 2020
Discovering a baby on the steps of Belle Beach Children's library, the children soon discover a more complicated plot, in this beautifully textured novel.
May 21, 2024
The story deviates from the main premise to explore flashbacks, random reflections, and various stories of the three characters. While the main plot eventually comes together, the book contains a lot of irrelevant material. I particularly enjoyed the subplot related to the older brother fighting in WWII. Overall, the story was not as intriguing as I expected it to be and it left me feeling unsatisfied.
August 17, 2020
I adore books and read many genres. Books written for the middle grade audience are some of my favorites, and The Summer We Found the Baby has just been added to my middle grade favorites list. The book is written in the voice of three characters: Julie, her younger sister Martha, and their summer neighbor Bruno. It’s sort of a stream of consciousness book in that as the three tell the story, their narratives are random memories…like you get three different points of view of the same event. It works so well. Julie (11) and Bruno (12) are about the same age; however, how a girl sees something differs from how a boy sees it. And Martha is 6, so, of course, her narratives are more about how things happening affect her.
Bruno’s brother Ben is overseas serving in WWII, and when Bruno talks about Ben in relation to his mom (getting letters, not getting letters, worrying), I can’t stop the tears. The uncertainty of your child’s safety…I know all moms feel it, but moms with kids in the armed services during a war…I can’t imagine. The author does such a brilliant job of portraying that feeling through the narrative of a 12 year old boy!
The patriotism that was profoundly evident during WWII is remarkably depicted in this book. I hope it doesn’t take another war or tragic event for this country to remember how lucky we are to live here. Just reading the little bits and pieces about how everyone did their part to show “the boys overseas” how proud we were of them made my heart swell with pride.
The Summer We Found the Baby is a must read for those 8+. If your child hates reading, read this to them. I think it would make a great resource for teachers as well. I highly recommend it!
Bruno’s brother Ben is overseas serving in WWII, and when Bruno talks about Ben in relation to his mom (getting letters, not getting letters, worrying), I can’t stop the tears. The uncertainty of your child’s safety…I know all moms feel it, but moms with kids in the armed services during a war…I can’t imagine. The author does such a brilliant job of portraying that feeling through the narrative of a 12 year old boy!
The patriotism that was profoundly evident during WWII is remarkably depicted in this book. I hope it doesn’t take another war or tragic event for this country to remember how lucky we are to live here. Just reading the little bits and pieces about how everyone did their part to show “the boys overseas” how proud we were of them made my heart swell with pride.
The Summer We Found the Baby is a must read for those 8+. If your child hates reading, read this to them. I think it would make a great resource for teachers as well. I highly recommend it!
August 5, 2020
The country may be at war, but on the morning of the dedication and opening of a new children's library in Belle Beach, Long Island, Julie Sweet, 11, has baked an angel food cake (her first cake ever). And even though George, the dog, helped himself to some of it, enough was rescued and so Julie and her younger sister Martha, 6, are heading over to the library with it and that's when they find an abandoned baby - left in a basket on the library steps.
On the same morning, Bruno Ben-Eli, 12, is heading for the train station without his parents permission or knowledge, to travel the 70 miles to NYC. His older brother, Private Benjamin Ben Eli is counting on him to find someone and to deliver a message to her. And it is a request Bruno has every intention of carrying out despite his mother being the head librarian at the library and in charge of the day's celebrations.
By the time Martha waves Bruno over to the library steps, Julie has already fallen in love with her found baby, whom Martha has named Nancy. When Bruno asks what she's going to do with the baby, Julie decides to take off down the beach carrying the baby in the basket, Martha in tow. And even though he has something else to do, Bruno, really former friend Bruno, follows them, convinced Julie is heading for Camp Mitchel, an army base a few miles away.
As this is going one, each kid recalls how they got to this point. Julie and Martha are summer visitors to Belle Beach, brought there with their dog George, by their widower father who is working on a book, and who has also taken an interest in a woman from the army base. Julie, who remembers her mother Eleanor, thinks about her a lot this summer, and because of her name, she had written a letter to Eleanor Roosevelt inviting her to the library dedication. Martha, who has grown quite attached to Mrs. Ben-Eli, is always asking Julie for stories about the mother she never knew. And Bruno, who looks up to his brother, thinks about his enlistment and the girlfriend he had before he left for the army and to whom he wants Bruno to deliver his message.
All this results in a wonderful historical mystery novel. The story is told in twenty short chapters and within each chapter, told from the alternating perspectives of Julie, Martha, and Bruno. Filled with many sweet moments, Ms. Yingling was right to compare it to Cynthia Rylant's Rosetown. That's just what it reminded me of, too. While the story unfolds with the same kind of slow and easy gentleness, it is never boring. In fact, it felt like a warm summer day at the beach towards the end of the season, and that is one of my favorite kind of days. It kept me reading. Well, that and the several mysteries that peaked my curiosity.
Mysteries like: Who is the baby and why was she left on the library steps? And why is Bruno a former friend of Julie's even though she and Martha are so friendly with his mother? What is the message Bruno is supposed to deliver? Who is Tess and was that really Eleanor Roosevelt who showed up at the library dedication and enjoyed some of Julie's dog-tested cake?
The Summer We Found the Baby is a beautifully crafted story about family, loss, hope, and possibility in the midst of war. When I read it, I approached it without any expectations, by the time I finished it, I actually felt uplifted. I hope you do, too.
This book is is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was gratefully received from the publisher, Candlewick Press
On the same morning, Bruno Ben-Eli, 12, is heading for the train station without his parents permission or knowledge, to travel the 70 miles to NYC. His older brother, Private Benjamin Ben Eli is counting on him to find someone and to deliver a message to her. And it is a request Bruno has every intention of carrying out despite his mother being the head librarian at the library and in charge of the day's celebrations.
By the time Martha waves Bruno over to the library steps, Julie has already fallen in love with her found baby, whom Martha has named Nancy. When Bruno asks what she's going to do with the baby, Julie decides to take off down the beach carrying the baby in the basket, Martha in tow. And even though he has something else to do, Bruno, really former friend Bruno, follows them, convinced Julie is heading for Camp Mitchel, an army base a few miles away.
As this is going one, each kid recalls how they got to this point. Julie and Martha are summer visitors to Belle Beach, brought there with their dog George, by their widower father who is working on a book, and who has also taken an interest in a woman from the army base. Julie, who remembers her mother Eleanor, thinks about her a lot this summer, and because of her name, she had written a letter to Eleanor Roosevelt inviting her to the library dedication. Martha, who has grown quite attached to Mrs. Ben-Eli, is always asking Julie for stories about the mother she never knew. And Bruno, who looks up to his brother, thinks about his enlistment and the girlfriend he had before he left for the army and to whom he wants Bruno to deliver his message.
All this results in a wonderful historical mystery novel. The story is told in twenty short chapters and within each chapter, told from the alternating perspectives of Julie, Martha, and Bruno. Filled with many sweet moments, Ms. Yingling was right to compare it to Cynthia Rylant's Rosetown. That's just what it reminded me of, too. While the story unfolds with the same kind of slow and easy gentleness, it is never boring. In fact, it felt like a warm summer day at the beach towards the end of the season, and that is one of my favorite kind of days. It kept me reading. Well, that and the several mysteries that peaked my curiosity.
Mysteries like: Who is the baby and why was she left on the library steps? And why is Bruno a former friend of Julie's even though she and Martha are so friendly with his mother? What is the message Bruno is supposed to deliver? Who is Tess and was that really Eleanor Roosevelt who showed up at the library dedication and enjoyed some of Julie's dog-tested cake?
The Summer We Found the Baby is a beautifully crafted story about family, loss, hope, and possibility in the midst of war. When I read it, I approached it without any expectations, by the time I finished it, I actually felt uplifted. I hope you do, too.
This book is is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was gratefully received from the publisher, Candlewick Press
August 19, 2020
This middle grade, multi-voiced view of WWII from a Long Island summer getaway achieves a remarkable sense of contemporary relevance. It employs alternating voices with distinctly narrow points of view as the narrators. Eleven-year-old Julie and her six-years-old sister Martha arrived from the city as summer residents with their writer/father, becoming temporary next-door neighbors to the family of year-round resident Bruno Ben-Eli. With Julie’s single-minded pursuit of proving herself, young Martha in perpetual search of a mom-figure, and Bruno in a persistent state of worry over his brother-gone-to-war, the yearning in each voice resonates with undercurrents of familiar sibling emotions, pre-teen angst, and the tunnel vision of youth.
That title-worthy baby appears early on in this situation, propelling the threesome’s individual and shared actions and the tone of their storytelling until the final (satisfying) resolution. Each short chapter/voice layers in actual information with unreliable content, weaving a mystery and missions that pull readers along by its artful blend of a middle grade novel structure while providing the accessibility and appeal of a well-written verse novel. Wry humor laced throughout offers welcome release at crucial moments.
Several things in this new offering struck me as stand outs. I’m not a New Yorker, but have read quite a few books for kids that are set in “the city”, from classics like Tar Beach and Harriet the Spy to modern marvels like Nana in the City and The Desperate Adventures of Zeno and Alya, among many others. In each case the city becomes a character, expressing various neighborhood personalities, whether seen through illustrations or in the multi-sensory qualities that emerge from well-written text. Even so, I’ve encountered very few books for kids that are set on Long Island.
If you have others to suggest, please leave recommendations in the comments.
I’ve often marveled at how very different “the island” seems from “the city”, at least as portrayed in adult books and in movies. This story offers a strong sense of a very particular place and time, so near and yet so far from what many of us view as “New York”. I thoroughly appreciated finding a sense of what life might actually be like in this extension of “the city”.
Also, as the call for presenting diverse characters on the page is finally leading to more books doing just that, a legitimate caveat is to write those diverse characters as simply living life authentically and fully formed, without attaching historical or identity issues to them as if to validate their presence on the page. In this case, Bruno Ben-Eli and his family are never directly labeled as a war-era Jewish-American family, and yet their individual and family lives introduce non-stereotypical characters as fully formed players in these complex relationships.
There’s much to enjoy in this new stateside World War II novel. And it you enjoy this one, try DUKE, the first of Kirby Larson’s Dogs of War series. There’s no dog involved, and the stories are quite distinct, yet the struggles of preteens dealing with timeless troubles and war-centered worries in both invite discussion and comparison.
That title-worthy baby appears early on in this situation, propelling the threesome’s individual and shared actions and the tone of their storytelling until the final (satisfying) resolution. Each short chapter/voice layers in actual information with unreliable content, weaving a mystery and missions that pull readers along by its artful blend of a middle grade novel structure while providing the accessibility and appeal of a well-written verse novel. Wry humor laced throughout offers welcome release at crucial moments.
Several things in this new offering struck me as stand outs. I’m not a New Yorker, but have read quite a few books for kids that are set in “the city”, from classics like Tar Beach and Harriet the Spy to modern marvels like Nana in the City and The Desperate Adventures of Zeno and Alya, among many others. In each case the city becomes a character, expressing various neighborhood personalities, whether seen through illustrations or in the multi-sensory qualities that emerge from well-written text. Even so, I’ve encountered very few books for kids that are set on Long Island.
If you have others to suggest, please leave recommendations in the comments.
I’ve often marveled at how very different “the island” seems from “the city”, at least as portrayed in adult books and in movies. This story offers a strong sense of a very particular place and time, so near and yet so far from what many of us view as “New York”. I thoroughly appreciated finding a sense of what life might actually be like in this extension of “the city”.
Also, as the call for presenting diverse characters on the page is finally leading to more books doing just that, a legitimate caveat is to write those diverse characters as simply living life authentically and fully formed, without attaching historical or identity issues to them as if to validate their presence on the page. In this case, Bruno Ben-Eli and his family are never directly labeled as a war-era Jewish-American family, and yet their individual and family lives introduce non-stereotypical characters as fully formed players in these complex relationships.
There’s much to enjoy in this new stateside World War II novel. And it you enjoy this one, try DUKE, the first of Kirby Larson’s Dogs of War series. There’s no dog involved, and the stories are quite distinct, yet the struggles of preteens dealing with timeless troubles and war-centered worries in both invite discussion and comparison.
January 7, 2021
Set during World War II, this poignant, briskly paced historical novel relays the events of one extraordinary summer from three engaging points of view.
On the morning of the dedication of the new children’s library in Belle Beach, Long Island, eleven-year-old Julie Sweet and her six-year-old sister, Martha, find a baby in a basket on the library steps. At the same time, twelve-year-old Bruno Ben-Eli is on his way to the train station to catch the 9:15 train into New York City. He is on an important errand for his brother, who is a soldier overseas in World War II. But when Bruno spies Julie, the same Julie who hasn’t spoken to him for sixteen days, heading away from the library with a baby in her arms, he has to follow her. Holy everything, he thinks. Julie Sweet is a kidnapper.
Of course, the truth is much more complicated than the children know in this heartwarming and beautifully textured family story by award-winning author Amy Hest. Told in three distinct voices, each with a different take on events, the novel captures the moments and emotions of a life-changing summer — a summer in which a baby gives a family hope and brings a community together.
Out August 2020
192 Pages
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is heart-warming and realistic and full of promise. I love the characters and how the writer developed them with careful, gentle patience. Watching family interactions as a result of an innocent life being brought into their lives quite unexpectedly, was so compelling to read about.
I was even impressed with the way the author uses 3 POVs to bring about this endearing story to its wonderful conclusion. Talented story-telling, a bit of mystery and a lovely story of family and hope. Set in WWII, the struggles of the time is very relatable. Each child has an important task/role to the story. As you discover more and more about the baby, you find out more and more about the children, their lives, and what they must do to resolve conflict.
The sisters are sweet and try so hard to fill their individual roles, one the supporting sister and the other, the grown-up sister. The youngest doesn’t always understand why things are going the way they are or how come people are doing what they’re doing, her innocence is endearing. Julie, the elder of the two (11), has a great responsibility of looking after her little sister and tries real hard to do this like an adult and in some cases fails (thankfully). The two are a fun pair and you want to just give them a big bear hug. Love seeing the larger print and chapter illustrations.
I love this book and highly recommend it. The author is a talented writer/story-teller and you’ll find yourself drawn in, turning pages wondering what happens to the sisters and the baby.
On the morning of the dedication of the new children’s library in Belle Beach, Long Island, eleven-year-old Julie Sweet and her six-year-old sister, Martha, find a baby in a basket on the library steps. At the same time, twelve-year-old Bruno Ben-Eli is on his way to the train station to catch the 9:15 train into New York City. He is on an important errand for his brother, who is a soldier overseas in World War II. But when Bruno spies Julie, the same Julie who hasn’t spoken to him for sixteen days, heading away from the library with a baby in her arms, he has to follow her. Holy everything, he thinks. Julie Sweet is a kidnapper.
Of course, the truth is much more complicated than the children know in this heartwarming and beautifully textured family story by award-winning author Amy Hest. Told in three distinct voices, each with a different take on events, the novel captures the moments and emotions of a life-changing summer — a summer in which a baby gives a family hope and brings a community together.
Out August 2020
192 Pages
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is heart-warming and realistic and full of promise. I love the characters and how the writer developed them with careful, gentle patience. Watching family interactions as a result of an innocent life being brought into their lives quite unexpectedly, was so compelling to read about.
I was even impressed with the way the author uses 3 POVs to bring about this endearing story to its wonderful conclusion. Talented story-telling, a bit of mystery and a lovely story of family and hope. Set in WWII, the struggles of the time is very relatable. Each child has an important task/role to the story. As you discover more and more about the baby, you find out more and more about the children, their lives, and what they must do to resolve conflict.
The sisters are sweet and try so hard to fill their individual roles, one the supporting sister and the other, the grown-up sister. The youngest doesn’t always understand why things are going the way they are or how come people are doing what they’re doing, her innocence is endearing. Julie, the elder of the two (11), has a great responsibility of looking after her little sister and tries real hard to do this like an adult and in some cases fails (thankfully). The two are a fun pair and you want to just give them a big bear hug. Love seeing the larger print and chapter illustrations.
I love this book and highly recommend it. The author is a talented writer/story-teller and you’ll find yourself drawn in, turning pages wondering what happens to the sisters and the baby.
October 23, 2020
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Summer We Found the Baby by Amy Hest is about a strange summer for three kids.
What will Julie, Martha, and Bruno do when they find a baby?
Julie and Martha Sweet
The first two characters are sisters that are born five years apart. Julie is the eldest sister who raised her sister with their father even though she doesn't seem like she cares about Martha. She is an interesting older sister character. Interesting in the way that she thinks everything she does is better than anyone else. Not only that, but Julie doesn't let anybody challenge her in what she knows is right. Martha, the baby sister, is only six and is trying to do whatever her big sister is doing. She isn't really a character I would think to put into this type of story for one of the main characters. These two sisters got a bit on my nerves as they both didn't seem like good characters. Like they weren't built enough.
Bruno Ben-Eli
Bruno is the baby of the Ben-Eli family and is a year older than Julie. He is on a mission for his brother, even though he doesn't know what for. Bruno is another character like the first two that got on my nerves a bit and that it seemed like he wasn't thought through as well. I wanted to like these characters, but I'm just unsure of them. Like Julie, Bruno thinks he knows everything and even more so because he's a year older. Also, I was not too fond of this character either.
3 Stars
The Summer We Found the Baby by Amy Hest seemed like a good idea, but it wasn't executed properly. The story bounced all over the place during the summer, and then we end up with characters that aren't really thought through enough. I wanted to like this book, but it just wasn't for me. Plus, the way that the author formatted the book made me think that they were always yelling at each other, which makes no sense. If it were written differently and maybe thought through better, with developed characters, then my rating would be different from three stars.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Summer We Found the Baby by Amy Hest.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
What will Julie, Martha, and Bruno do when they find a baby?
Julie and Martha Sweet
The first two characters are sisters that are born five years apart. Julie is the eldest sister who raised her sister with their father even though she doesn't seem like she cares about Martha. She is an interesting older sister character. Interesting in the way that she thinks everything she does is better than anyone else. Not only that, but Julie doesn't let anybody challenge her in what she knows is right. Martha, the baby sister, is only six and is trying to do whatever her big sister is doing. She isn't really a character I would think to put into this type of story for one of the main characters. These two sisters got a bit on my nerves as they both didn't seem like good characters. Like they weren't built enough.
Bruno Ben-Eli Bruno is the baby of the Ben-Eli family and is a year older than Julie. He is on a mission for his brother, even though he doesn't know what for. Bruno is another character like the first two that got on my nerves a bit and that it seemed like he wasn't thought through as well. I wanted to like these characters, but I'm just unsure of them. Like Julie, Bruno thinks he knows everything and even more so because he's a year older. Also, I was not too fond of this character either.
3 Stars
The Summer We Found the Baby by Amy Hest seemed like a good idea, but it wasn't executed properly. The story bounced all over the place during the summer, and then we end up with characters that aren't really thought through enough. I wanted to like this book, but it just wasn't for me. Plus, the way that the author formatted the book made me think that they were always yelling at each other, which makes no sense. If it were written differently and maybe thought through better, with developed characters, then my rating would be different from three stars.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Summer We Found the Baby by Amy Hest.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
December 27, 2024
What is this book? I downright loved it. But I grew up reading old fashioned children's books (this one was published in 2020, but written in that early part of the century style). It's dazzling in the sense of being inside a child's brain, and mundane, and thrilling. Yes, those three things can go together when you are living through the eyes of 11 and 12 and six year olds in a beach town in the summer during World War II (I'm guessing?).
Will definitely seek out other books by this author. Reminded me of one of my favorites, Sydney Taylor's, "All Of A Kind Family."
Will definitely seek out other books by this author. Reminded me of one of my favorites, Sydney Taylor's, "All Of A Kind Family."
August 7, 2020
Told through multiple narrators --Julie, Martha, and Bruno--this was a sweet story about some kids who find a baby on the steps of the new children's library in Belle Beach. The mystery is finding out who the baby belongs to and what was written in Ben's letter and who Bruno was supposed to find in NYC. Short chapters and quickly paced, this was an enjoyable read.
September 23, 2020
Julie, age 11, finds a baby in a basket on the steps of the new children's library and she's sure it's for her. What a premise! It totally works. Told with the voices of three alternating characters--Julie, the baby collector, her sister Martha, age 6, who makes friends with everyone and Bruno Ben-Eli, self-described "mature for his age" whose brother is serving overseas during WWII. I thought I knew how this book would end but I was surprised. Great writing. Highly recommend. A quick read. Eleanor Roosevelt, too. But no diversity.
Read
August 9, 2020Rather impressionistic home front story told from the POV of three children. As a result, details are a bit sketchy and one of the narrators is very young and a tad unreliable. Interesting how the pieces come together.
October 6, 2020
This book, hovering somewhere between middle grade and middle school appeal, tells a story that is a snapshot of what life was like “back home” once America got into WWII from the perspectives of three children whose lives are touched by real loss and an innocence they cling to when faced with those losses. The plot is somewhat improbable (Eleanor Roosevelt arriving in a limo-like car and inviting the children (and the baby they have found) to a picnic on the beach), but may be plausible to a ten year old who still thrives on wishful thinking.
August 21, 2021
A very short, easy beginner book about a baby found on the library steps. I got it for my daughter to read but I was too intrigued to not read it myself. It’s told in the voice of 3 kids. It’s about family, loss, war, and friendship. A cute little read with a nice ending.
April 3, 2023
Thought the book was interesting stylistically - really captures the voice of a child, but I found the plot pretty predictable. Quick read for kids who might be interested in historical fiction.
September 17, 2020
Not at all what I expected! A charming story set during World War II & starring 3 kids who find a baby in a basket on the steps of the their local library! Remember, it won't be what you expect!
July 21, 2020
I am a WW II baby, then later in life remember talking with my mother, aunts and grandmothers about the long wait for letters from those family members who were servicemen fighting all over the world. When you see this idyllic cover of children on a beach, it's a surprise to read that it's not a sweet summer on the ocean story, but a complex tale of those children, seen as white, all figuring out their lives during the war. Julie Sweet, eleven, and Martha, her baby sister, six, have come to the island with their writer father, just for the summer while he finishes a book. Bruno Ben-Eli, twelve, is a next-door neighbor but lives there year-round. His father runs a supermarket; his mother is the town librarian. And his brother Ben has gone off to war.
Amy allows each child to tell this story, alternating each child's words (with very firm opinions) as time moves along during the summer. The tale leads to the dedication of the new children's library in Belle Beach, Long Island.
What fun that Julie and her sister are taking a cake for the big day until plans change drastically when they find a baby on the library steps. Bruno is on his way to NYC (he thinks) to carry out a secret errand for his brother Ben. But when he sees what has happened with Julie and Martha and their discovery, he knows it's a kidnapping. Back and forth, Amy Hest fills out the story of this summer, tension rising as I as a reader wonders if they'll ever hear from Ben, who is that baby anyway and what does it really have to do with these kids? Also, Eleanor Roosevelt actually plays a part, showing more about the children and their interest and knowledge of the war readers might not know about. Nearby is a base that receives wounded soldiers they sometimes spy on. Poignant feelings show up when least expected, like Julie talking about her mom who died when Martha was born and Bruno, repeating and repeating his imagined sights of his brother coming home, coming up the beach swinging his duffle and waving. That heart-rending scene came among others in this book, showing readers glimpses of those waiting at home while the war was fought so far away. It's beautifully written in an extraordinary way.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this advanced copy of Amy Hest's recent book, out in mid-July.
Amy allows each child to tell this story, alternating each child's words (with very firm opinions) as time moves along during the summer. The tale leads to the dedication of the new children's library in Belle Beach, Long Island.
What fun that Julie and her sister are taking a cake for the big day until plans change drastically when they find a baby on the library steps. Bruno is on his way to NYC (he thinks) to carry out a secret errand for his brother Ben. But when he sees what has happened with Julie and Martha and their discovery, he knows it's a kidnapping. Back and forth, Amy Hest fills out the story of this summer, tension rising as I as a reader wonders if they'll ever hear from Ben, who is that baby anyway and what does it really have to do with these kids? Also, Eleanor Roosevelt actually plays a part, showing more about the children and their interest and knowledge of the war readers might not know about. Nearby is a base that receives wounded soldiers they sometimes spy on. Poignant feelings show up when least expected, like Julie talking about her mom who died when Martha was born and Bruno, repeating and repeating his imagined sights of his brother coming home, coming up the beach swinging his duffle and waving. That heart-rending scene came among others in this book, showing readers glimpses of those waiting at home while the war was fought so far away. It's beautifully written in an extraordinary way.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this advanced copy of Amy Hest's recent book, out in mid-July.
September 18, 2020
I've never read a book like The Summer We Found the Baby. Filled with lighthearted humor, a serious historical setting, and an adorable trio of narrators, this book shows how the simplest morning can turn into a grand adventure.
Each chapter features three different perspectives: Julie, 11, determined to be first to the opening of the new children's library. Her sister, Martha, 6, who is equally determined never to be left behind. Bruno, 12, is on a very important mission, at least until he sees something odd: Julie taking a baby from where it's been left alone on the front steps of the library. The book's setup is very unique, showing the same scene from different characters' perspectives and also utilizing each narrator's flashbacks to give some perspective to their lives before they found the baby.
Although this book is set during World War II, it's different in that it shows the war as an overarching backdrop that affects these children in different ways. Bruno's brother has gone off to fight; Martha and Julie's father's job is to write about war heroes. It's interesting to see how it's shaped their lives and motivations--especially when it comes to preparing for the library's opening!--when the war is so far removed from them geographically. This would be an interesting way to introduce young readers to the general American attitude during World War II, through the framing of a light plot.
In fact, I thought it pretty clever how real lessons and stories were told just behind the narrative surrounding the baby Julie is "borrowing" while the trio decide what to do with the baby. Julie and Martha grieve the loss of their mother. Bruno worries about his brother. The entire town seems to sit, frozen, waiting to hear news about the war. Even in this short book, the characters show real depth as they're faced with mature situations and emotions. By viewing the plot through three separate narrators, readers can see no one person reacts just the same as another. Everyone processes emotions and life events differently, and The Summer We Found the Baby does an excellent job showcasing that.
I highly recommend this book! The Summer We Found the Baby is a quiet story that will leave you hooked on the mystery as well as the characters relating it to you.
Each chapter features three different perspectives: Julie, 11, determined to be first to the opening of the new children's library. Her sister, Martha, 6, who is equally determined never to be left behind. Bruno, 12, is on a very important mission, at least until he sees something odd: Julie taking a baby from where it's been left alone on the front steps of the library. The book's setup is very unique, showing the same scene from different characters' perspectives and also utilizing each narrator's flashbacks to give some perspective to their lives before they found the baby.
Although this book is set during World War II, it's different in that it shows the war as an overarching backdrop that affects these children in different ways. Bruno's brother has gone off to fight; Martha and Julie's father's job is to write about war heroes. It's interesting to see how it's shaped their lives and motivations--especially when it comes to preparing for the library's opening!--when the war is so far removed from them geographically. This would be an interesting way to introduce young readers to the general American attitude during World War II, through the framing of a light plot.
In fact, I thought it pretty clever how real lessons and stories were told just behind the narrative surrounding the baby Julie is "borrowing" while the trio decide what to do with the baby. Julie and Martha grieve the loss of their mother. Bruno worries about his brother. The entire town seems to sit, frozen, waiting to hear news about the war. Even in this short book, the characters show real depth as they're faced with mature situations and emotions. By viewing the plot through three separate narrators, readers can see no one person reacts just the same as another. Everyone processes emotions and life events differently, and The Summer We Found the Baby does an excellent job showcasing that.
I highly recommend this book! The Summer We Found the Baby is a quiet story that will leave you hooked on the mystery as well as the characters relating it to you.
July 6, 2020
I love reading books seasonally and this one is a great summer read for elementary children. Older reluctant readers will enjoy some historical details about WWII and a cameo by a First Lady. And younger readers will appreciate the very short chapters. This would be a perfect book to transition into reading to oneself. Although it could still be a wonderful read aloud for the family.
There is a bit of mystery involved; the main element of which is introduced in the first chapter and not fully explained until the end. The book offers a unique 3-person perspective to the story: Bruno, Julie, and Martha (the latter two sisters) take turns offering their thoughts and some of the dialogue they have with one another or family members. Dialogue is written in caps (instead of traditional use of quotation marks).
The whole thing reads as though you were observing three chatty children on a summer day. The mystery that opens the book as well as their relationship to one another reveals itself in slow layers. It is interesting to see how each child reacts to the mystery. Adults are sort of in the background, their presence only filtered through the children's minds.
I'm hopeful that the final edition will have illustrations included. Given the reading level and brevity of chapters, the target reader would still expect (and delight in having) illustrations. The book touches on war in a very child-like way and could provide a spring board for some history discussions between parent and child. This would make a great companion read for a day trip in the car or an afternoon at the beach.
I received a free digital copy of The Summer We Found the Baby from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.
There is a bit of mystery involved; the main element of which is introduced in the first chapter and not fully explained until the end. The book offers a unique 3-person perspective to the story: Bruno, Julie, and Martha (the latter two sisters) take turns offering their thoughts and some of the dialogue they have with one another or family members. Dialogue is written in caps (instead of traditional use of quotation marks).
The whole thing reads as though you were observing three chatty children on a summer day. The mystery that opens the book as well as their relationship to one another reveals itself in slow layers. It is interesting to see how each child reacts to the mystery. Adults are sort of in the background, their presence only filtered through the children's minds.
I'm hopeful that the final edition will have illustrations included. Given the reading level and brevity of chapters, the target reader would still expect (and delight in having) illustrations. The book touches on war in a very child-like way and could provide a spring board for some history discussions between parent and child. This would make a great companion read for a day trip in the car or an afternoon at the beach.
I received a free digital copy of The Summer We Found the Baby from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.
September 8, 2020
Bruno and Julie aren’t really friends anymore, but in the small town of Belle Beach, Long Island, they still see one another. That’s how Bruno sees Julie discover the baby that was left on the steps of the new children’s library. Julie carries the baby off, leaving Bruno to discover the note that Julie never found. Bruno though is on a mission for his brother who is overseas fighting in World War II, and he must decide if he will miss the train to New York or not. Told through flashbacks that show the story of Bruno, Julie and Julie’s little sister, Martha, this book explores the impact of the war on families and also how one complicated situation can somehow tie their entire summer together.
Hest creates a marvelous story told in brief chapters by each of the three characters. Their perspectives are beautifully individual, filled with misunderstandings about one another, views that are entirely their own, and opinions that they form along the way. The book is almost a puzzle, where one must figure out what is actually happening through these independent lenses that show a fractured image of the truth.
Each of the three characters has their own personality, deftly created and shown by Hest. Her writing is brief and clear, allowing each character’s words to stand strong as their own. It is the quality of her writing and the profound respect she shows her young characters that really let this delight of a novel work, revealing the moments and experiences of a single sun-drenched summer on the beach.
Ideal for summer reading, this work of historical fiction is masterful. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
Hest creates a marvelous story told in brief chapters by each of the three characters. Their perspectives are beautifully individual, filled with misunderstandings about one another, views that are entirely their own, and opinions that they form along the way. The book is almost a puzzle, where one must figure out what is actually happening through these independent lenses that show a fractured image of the truth.
Each of the three characters has their own personality, deftly created and shown by Hest. Her writing is brief and clear, allowing each character’s words to stand strong as their own. It is the quality of her writing and the profound respect she shows her young characters that really let this delight of a novel work, revealing the moments and experiences of a single sun-drenched summer on the beach.
Ideal for summer reading, this work of historical fiction is masterful. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
April 23, 2020
The Summer We Found the Baby- Amy Fest
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bruno Ben-Eli, Julie, and Martha all spend their summer at Belle Beach, only Ben lives there year round. Julie and Martha are visiting for the summer as their dad is doing important work at Camp Mitchel. This summer is one full of adventure during WWII while Bruno waits for letters from his brother Ben.
There is a big grand opening of the children’s library in town. Julie and Martha have baked a cake for this celebration and intend on arriving early. Only when they arrive they notice a baby in a basket. Julie takes the baby and devises a plan. However, the plan goes awry when Bruno follows the two sisters with the new bundle of joy. Albeit Julie’s plan is not a great one, she sure is resourceful.
I think this story was a little on the younger side for a #middlegrade book. I could see upper elementary enjoying this story as it was a cute narrative that followed three different perspectives on the events that happened over the summer.
This book is set to publish in August 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣.
Thank you to #Netgalley and to @Candlewickpress for this kindle edition in exchange for an honest review.
#arc #advancedreadercopy #teacherthatreads #momthatreads #TheSummerWeFoundtheBaby #beachreads #upperelementaryreads #summertime #summeradventures #WWII #Historicalfiction #elementaryreads #middlegradereads #militarytown #bibliophile #booklover #booknerd #goodreads #bookreview #bookstagram #bookblog #recommendations #readtosleep
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bruno Ben-Eli, Julie, and Martha all spend their summer at Belle Beach, only Ben lives there year round. Julie and Martha are visiting for the summer as their dad is doing important work at Camp Mitchel. This summer is one full of adventure during WWII while Bruno waits for letters from his brother Ben.
There is a big grand opening of the children’s library in town. Julie and Martha have baked a cake for this celebration and intend on arriving early. Only when they arrive they notice a baby in a basket. Julie takes the baby and devises a plan. However, the plan goes awry when Bruno follows the two sisters with the new bundle of joy. Albeit Julie’s plan is not a great one, she sure is resourceful.
I think this story was a little on the younger side for a #middlegrade book. I could see upper elementary enjoying this story as it was a cute narrative that followed three different perspectives on the events that happened over the summer.
This book is set to publish in August 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣.
Thank you to #Netgalley and to @Candlewickpress for this kindle edition in exchange for an honest review.
#arc #advancedreadercopy #teacherthatreads #momthatreads #TheSummerWeFoundtheBaby #beachreads #upperelementaryreads #summertime #summeradventures #WWII #Historicalfiction #elementaryreads #middlegradereads #militarytown #bibliophile #booklover #booknerd #goodreads #bookreview #bookstagram #bookblog #recommendations #readtosleep
July 30, 2020
It is opening day for the new Children's Library in Belle Beach, Long Island. That isn't the only thing happening though. When eleven year old Julie Sweet and her little sister arrive for the opening they find a baby in a basket on the steps of the new Library. While that happens twelve year old Bruno Ben-Eli is heading to the train station on a special mission from his brother who is a solider across sea in WWII. However he sees Julie take the baby and that distracts him from the mission because what he just witnessed makes him think Julie Sweet is a kidnapper.
Told in three point of views of the three children this is a really amazing historical fiction middle grade story. While the children have varying degrees of awareness of the war that is happening. You hear bits and pieces of what they think and the emotions they feel. I thought it was a wonderful view point between the different ages and families. The pacing of this story was brilliant. Even though I know I am not the intended audience I think any audience could quickly get into the book and enjoy reading it fairly quickly. Getting involved with the characters, their stories and the mystery of the baby.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes middle grade already or is interesting in exploring this age range of stories. For those who want to explore some historical fiction that is a little lighter than the stories of WWII adult fiction.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an eArc. All opinions and review are my own.
Told in three point of views of the three children this is a really amazing historical fiction middle grade story. While the children have varying degrees of awareness of the war that is happening. You hear bits and pieces of what they think and the emotions they feel. I thought it was a wonderful view point between the different ages and families. The pacing of this story was brilliant. Even though I know I am not the intended audience I think any audience could quickly get into the book and enjoy reading it fairly quickly. Getting involved with the characters, their stories and the mystery of the baby.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes middle grade already or is interesting in exploring this age range of stories. For those who want to explore some historical fiction that is a little lighter than the stories of WWII adult fiction.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an eArc. All opinions and review are my own.
March 26, 2023
First sentence: I'm the one who found her. A real, live baby girl and I saw her first. I saw the basket. Right over there, on the steps of the new children's library. A tiny little baby! All by herself in that basket! She was so brave, though. She wasn't even crying. I just wanted to hold her awhile. I didn't mean to take the baby.
Premise/plot: This children's book is set during the Second World War. It opens on a summer day--August 31. Three children (Julie and Martha Sweet, and their neighbor, Bruno Ben-Eli) find a baby in a basket on the steps of the [new] children's library. Each chapter features narration by all three--Julie, Martha, Bruno. Each chapter reveals details fleshing out their story. Everything leads to the big day--August 31. As you might have guessed, this one is not a linear or chronological story. Readers learn about the characters, the story, the setting--slowly but surely.
My thoughts: I really loved this one! I did. There were a few [subtle] moments of sadness. But nothing overwhelming or heavy. Observant readers can read behind the lines as to how the characters might be feeling. It has a great premise--children finding an 'abandoned' baby on the steps to the public library. It has dimensional characters--I really loved getting to know all three protagonists. I loved the complex relationships. Readers learn relatively early on that Bruno and Julie have fallen out; they were friends once, but no more. I love how human all these characters are. I felt empathy for all three.
Premise/plot: This children's book is set during the Second World War. It opens on a summer day--August 31. Three children (Julie and Martha Sweet, and their neighbor, Bruno Ben-Eli) find a baby in a basket on the steps of the [new] children's library. Each chapter features narration by all three--Julie, Martha, Bruno. Each chapter reveals details fleshing out their story. Everything leads to the big day--August 31. As you might have guessed, this one is not a linear or chronological story. Readers learn about the characters, the story, the setting--slowly but surely.
My thoughts: I really loved this one! I did. There were a few [subtle] moments of sadness. But nothing overwhelming or heavy. Observant readers can read behind the lines as to how the characters might be feeling. It has a great premise--children finding an 'abandoned' baby on the steps to the public library. It has dimensional characters--I really loved getting to know all three protagonists. I loved the complex relationships. Readers learn relatively early on that Bruno and Julie have fallen out; they were friends once, but no more. I love how human all these characters are. I felt empathy for all three.
April 27, 2020
What a sweet little historical middle grade read!
During one summer of WWII, eleven-year-old Julie and her six-year-old sister Martha are on their way to the dedication ceremony of a new children's library in Belle Beach when they find a baby on the steps. At the same time, twelve-year-old Bruno Ben-Eli is on his way to catch a train. He's got a secret mission from his brother Ben, who is off fighting in the war. But as soon as he sees Julie "kidnapping" the baby, his plans get derailed.
Amy Hest delivers this story through the three kids' points of view and it's wonderfully done. Each has a distinct voice--and Bruno steals the show. We're given a quickly paced tale of family and friends and what it means when a loved one goes off to war.
I'll read just about anything to do with WWII and this is a great story to introduce the conflict to kids. It doesn't dwell on the horrors of the war, but offers a brief glimpse into the hope, waiting, and grief of the Home Front. There is also a lovely little cameo of Eleanor Roosevelt.
Because of its relative simplicity, I think this would be perfect for the younger end of the middle grade spectrum and I'd highly recommend it to kid readers and classroom teachers alike.
Thank you to Candlewick Press and NetGalley for providing this advance copy in exchange for a review.
During one summer of WWII, eleven-year-old Julie and her six-year-old sister Martha are on their way to the dedication ceremony of a new children's library in Belle Beach when they find a baby on the steps. At the same time, twelve-year-old Bruno Ben-Eli is on his way to catch a train. He's got a secret mission from his brother Ben, who is off fighting in the war. But as soon as he sees Julie "kidnapping" the baby, his plans get derailed.
Amy Hest delivers this story through the three kids' points of view and it's wonderfully done. Each has a distinct voice--and Bruno steals the show. We're given a quickly paced tale of family and friends and what it means when a loved one goes off to war.
I'll read just about anything to do with WWII and this is a great story to introduce the conflict to kids. It doesn't dwell on the horrors of the war, but offers a brief glimpse into the hope, waiting, and grief of the Home Front. There is also a lovely little cameo of Eleanor Roosevelt.
Because of its relative simplicity, I think this would be perfect for the younger end of the middle grade spectrum and I'd highly recommend it to kid readers and classroom teachers alike.
Thank you to Candlewick Press and NetGalley for providing this advance copy in exchange for a review.
December 27, 2020
This title would make most browsers perk up, it sounds worrisome. That's exactly how it starts out, mistakes are made. Told through three voices; eleven-year-old Julie, six-year-old Martha her little sister, and next door neighbor twelve-year-old Bruno, whose brother has gone overseas in the midst of World War II. Their vacation home on Belle Beach, Long Island has few activities, the sisters are on their way to the town's childrens library and THERE on the library steps is a basket with a little baby inside, all alone. Julie immediately takes charge deciding she'll save the baby, she picks up the basket and heads down to the beach with her little sister and Bruno close behind. Narrated through the voices of the three children, amidst the worries of the war, is Julie's desire to invite Eleanor Roosevelt to join them at the library opening that very same day. This tale is paced just right, the townspeople all know one another, one gets a glimpse of a world where letters from abroad carry so much hope and fear. This is a gripping tale with lots of loose ends, revving up the suspense until the very end! A beautifully written story where the main three characters become three dimensional through their actions. There is much to love and worry about until the very end of this splendid tale.
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