Rope Burn

June 1, 1998
Gr 4-6-This upbeat story takes a fresh approach in dealing with common concerns. For English class, Richard is supposed to "write a composition about a proverb that illustrates something that has happened" to him. As he considers the assignment, he is overwhelmed by the number of proverbs that could apply to his life, which has recently been turned upside down by his parents' divorce and a move to a new house in another part of town. Each chapter is titled with a well-known proverb and subtitled with Richard's explanation of how the saying applies to his circumstances. Through this writing assignment, Siebold gently guides readers through cross-sections of Richard's life as he examines his past and learns to express his feelings. Kids with an eye for detail will notice the graphics at the top of each page that correspond to the chapter headings. Teachers could read this book aloud and then use its premise as a jumping-off point for similar assignments. Each chapter is an invitation for classroom discussion and can stand alone.-Kit Vaughan, J. B. Watkins Elementary School, Midlothian, VA