Poppy's Hero

November 15, 2012
Grades 3-5 Billington's work with the British national prison newspaper Inside Times informs this picture of a family adjusting to a father's incarceration. When Poppy's dad, Big Frank, goes to prison, she insists he must be innocent, only gradually coming to terms with the reality of his conviction as a drug courier. Appalled at first, Poppy's best friend Jude comes around and sticks by her even when, in her unhappiness, Poppy tries to push her away. New friends include the sickly Will and the older, unsavory Angel, whose father has been in and out of jail for years. Snippets of Big Frank's experience add to the reader's understanding. Beyond the family's discomfort and the children's unsuccessful plans to help him escape, there are too many other issues and not much slope to the narrative arc, and in the absence of suspense, some readers may become impatient with Poppy. Those who sympathize most, however, may happily follow Poppy through to the story's end.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)