The Dancing Pancake

Starred review from May 17, 2010
Spinelli (who collaborated with Lew-Vriethoff on Summerhouse Time) again effectively employs free verse in this series of poems told by 11-year-old Bindi, whose parents' recent separation has thrown her life into upheaval. With her father gone, money is tight, so her mother and aunt open a diner, the Dancing Pancake. Bindi runs the gamut of expected emotions—from pretended indifference through sorrow and anger to tentative joy at her parents' possible reunion—in a fresh, unadorned voice that is always believable and sympathetic: "I have to say,/ I'm starting to think/ maybe it will be/ fun, being in/ the restaurant business./ Did I say that?/ (Not out loud)." The short sentences and straightforward expression of often complex feelings make the book accessible to younger or reluctant readers. Spinelli's secondary characters are affectionately drawn, from Bindi's diverse school friends to the teenage waitress, shy foreign dishwasher, and diner guests, including a homeless woman whom Bindi befriends. Bindi's struggles are credible and moving; while nothing is easily resolved, readers will be more than content with the hopeful conclusion. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12.

May 1, 2010
Gr 4-7-Bindi's life is pretty normal. She loves to read and has good friends and a loving extended family. This normalcy ends when her parents announce that they are separating and that her father is moving to another city to look for a job. Told entirely in verse, the story relates the sixth grader's experiences, her feelings, and snippets of her daily life. Bindi and her mother move to an apartment above The Dancing Pancake, which Bindi's mother and aunt open shortly after school lets out for the summer. The cafe is populated with interesting staff and customers, many of whom help the girl create her own definitions of friendship and empathy. Bindi's growth and self-realization help her cope with the situations that the grown-ups in her life face and allow her to accept her father back into her life when her parents reconcile. The poetic structure of this novel succeeds in capturing the child's voice and deepest feelings. The verse also provides sound development of secondary characters. Lew-Vriethoff's lively pen-and-ink illustrations add texture to the story and offer touches of humor. Contemporary issues, including the homelessness of Bindi's favorite customer, are balanced by lighter themes of silly little cousins and first crushes."Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2010
Grades 3-6 In short stanzas, 11-year-old Bindi chronicles her feelings as life seems to turn upside down after her parents separate and she moves into a small apartment with her mom, who opens a new restaurant with Bindis aunt. A lover of good books and jokes, Bindi is believable in her disbelief, sadness, anger, and self-preoccupation. Adults, friends, and relatives help her work through these stages; their own issues become clearer as Bindi moves toward acceptance and more concern for others. Her bouncy four-year-old cousin, Jackson, shown as a child of color in the accompanying black-and-white illustrations, and friend Albert, who cheerfully takes on the role of honorary brother, are particularly important to her healing. One patron of the Dancing Pancake is a homeless woman, and a subplot describes Bindis efforts to help her, with an unexpected outcome. As she did in Where I Live (2007), Spinelli truthfully charts an emotional journey. The free-verse sections wont stand alone as poetry but will invite reluctant readers to follow along in this moving story of friendship and growth.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)