Leap

The unthinkable occurs when champion swimmer Daniel has an allergic reaction during routine dental work and becomes paralyzed. A dual narration by Jennifer Ikeda and Jonathan Todd Ross movingly presents the pain, confusion, and anger of Daniel and the people in his life. His father and his friends try to help. His mother leaves the family when she can no longer cope. Much-needed levity is provided by author and narrator alike with a quirky "Italian" grandmother and a Daniel's sweet little brother, Martin. Everyone involved has very real emotions and differing coping methods. Over time, Daniel and his best friend, Krista, make leaps in emotional growth, as do their friends and family. An excellent ending closes this realistic story of learning from adversity. S.G.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

January 8, 2007
This sensitively wrought novel about growing pains shows how two sixth-graders in Flushing, Queens, rekindle an old friendship after a devastating accident. Through alternating viewpoints, Zalben (Hey, Mama Goose
) offers an up-close, honest portrayal of her two main characters: Daniel, who is left partially paralyzed after having an allergic reaction to anesthesia, and Krista, who used to be close to Daniel but now is preoccupied with getting Daniel's best friend, Bobby, to notice her. As the story unfolds, the children's individual conflicts come to light. Daniel, once a champion swimmer, is frustrated with his slow progress in recovering the use of his legs and is distraught by his parents' bitterness towards Bobby's father (the dentist "responsible" for Daniel's paralysis). Family tensions go from bad to worse when Daniel's mother leaves the family to pursue her music dreams. Meanwhile, Krista experiences her own share of anger and dismay as she observes the blossoming romance between Bobby and another classmate, Lainie. As Daniel and Krista struggle to come to terms with changes in their lives, they find themselves drawn together. Krista agrees to help Daniel relearn how to swim and the two of them team up to work on a science project centered on a tadpole. The tadpole's metamorphosis neatly mirrors the children's internal growth as they come to terms with their losses and move forward. Eloquently expressing the power of hope and friendship, this story delivers an inspiring message. Ages 10-up.