The Rainbow Kid

Rainbow Kid #1

by Jeanne Betancourt

Aviva Granger, a ten-year-old, has difficulty adjusting to her parents' divorce, despite the fact that they have joint custody and share her

Genres: Young Adult, Novels, Childrens

107 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1983

About the author

When I was growing up I never thought of being an author. I was a terrible speller and didn't want to write any more than I had to. I wanted to be a tap dancer when I grew up. After a few years of teaching junior high and high school, I wrote my first novel. It was a surprise to discover that I liked making up stories and writing them down. I liked it so much that eventually I stopped teaching and became a fulltime writer.

Besides novels for children and young adults, I've also told stories by writing scripts for television and the movies.

I live on the top floor of a sixteen-story building near the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. From my apartment I have a view of Manhattan that includes the Empire State Building and the Plaza Hotel. In my free time I draw, paint, and read. I still love to dance.

Some people think that a writer's life is lonely. But when I'm writing a story I don't feel lonely because I am actively involved with lots of interesting people – the characters in my books. I love knowing that some day readers will get to know these characters, too. If you are one of my readers I hope you have as much enjoyment in reading my stories as I have writing them.

Reviews

[rivka · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Simply written, definitely from a younger kid's perspective (about 8-12, maybe). It made me cry, although I'm pretty sure it wasn't intended to!

I will definitely be passing it along to my 9 year old.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slice of life novel about a sixth grade girl dealing with her newly divorced parents and the class bully. Aviva seems like a typical girl of the 80s. She attends Catholic school, has a big sheepdog and wants a normal life. Completely relatable to children of divorce, like me. I would have liked this book as a child.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book repeatedly in grade school. Aviva and her trusty dog, Mop, were so real to me. My parents were, and still are, happily married, so it wasn't that I was looking to it for comfort or answers. No, it's just a well-written story about a girl my age (at the time, anyway) and how she struggled to resolve the changes in her life.

[Jani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book at the fourth grade book mobile. I read the covers off of it. Truthfully it made me envious. My parents were still married but I was in the minority in my class. I loved the thought of two homes, two birthdays, two sets of families to love me. (Yes, I was a sad kid! Lol)
I know now how lucky I am but reading this book now brings back memories.

[Michelle Lemaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! It's all rushing back to me now. Laying on my bed in my room, reading until it got dark and hard to see my book... my mom comin in my room flipping on the lights, reminding me that I was going to go blind...

[Lavetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book growing up.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books when I was nine/ten years old.

[hpboy13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read, and a great look at what having divorced parents can be like for a sixth-grader.