Call Me Amy

April 15, 2013
The spring of 1973 in small-town Maine has been just as dull and isolating as winter was for eighth-grader Amy Henderson, since her best friend left Port Wells one year ago. Overall nervousness, the awkward side effects of puberty (namely acne), and having a picture-perfect older sister do nothing to improve Amy’s shaky demeanor. But the sudden appearance of an injured harbor seal brings her closer to two unlikely allies as they care for the seal, dubbed “Pup,” in secret: loudmouthed Craig, whose carefree personality is a cover for underlying insecurities and family problems, and elderly Miss Cogshell, who proves to be worldly and kind, despite her reputation as “the most terrifying inhabitant of Port Wells.” Strykowski lovingly captures seaside Maine and the travails of adolescence in her quiet, sweet-natured debut novel. While this story about finding confidence in oneself is fairly predictable, with a climactic tragedy helping invigorate the somewhat slow-moving plot, readers should still enjoy losing themselves in the coastal setting, especially those who share Amy’s concern for animals. Ages 8–12.

April 1, 2013
In a first-person voice that doesn't always quite ring true, Amy describes the events of the spring in which she begins a transformation into young adulthood. Eighth-grader Amy is growing up in a coastal Maine village in 1973; she is shy, unpopular and self-focused. In two gradually developing relationships, she is befriended by a spunky elderly woman, Miss Cogshell, known to many as "Old Coot," and by Craig, the tough-guy son of an abusive, alcoholic single mother. Craig is struggling in school and at home, so when he takes on care of an injured seal pup, he's pushed to the brink and turns to Amy for help. Since it's illegal to take in wildlife, the pair must keep "Pup" hidden while they raise him; Miss Cogshell becomes a willing participant, keeping the seal in her home while also gently reaching out to both unhappy teens. But Miss Cogshell is not well, and eventually the young pair must get their emotional support from each other, something they are at first unable to do. At times, Amy's voice feels more authorial than authentic ("A rush of freedom outweighed the feel of coarse ground against my palms"), but debut author Strykowski gains competence as she progresses and lets Amy speak more clearly. Well-drawn, sympathetic characters and the developing spark between Amy and Craig combine to create a pleasant, satisfying read. (Historical fiction. 10-14)

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August 1, 2013

Gr 6-8-Amy Henderson's eighth-grade year has been very lonely. The teen lives in a tiny town in Maine, and her only friend moved away last year, in 1972. She takes walks to get out of her house, but there aren't many places to go except the convenience store, the pier, and the post office. One day, the postmistress asks Amy to deliver mail to Miss Cogshell, a scary old lady living near the pier. Amy learns that the woman has many stories to tell and that she isn't scary at all. Then a classmate tells Amy a secret. He has taken an injured seal pup to his house, but what he has done is illegal and he's afraid of getting caught. With Miss Cogshell's help, they try to nurse the animal back to health and Amy discovers she has found new friends in the most unlikely of places. This character-driven novel is told from Amy's point of view. The protagonist grows throughout the story, from a shy loner to having two friends and speaking her mind in front of her adversaries at school as well as to the whole town. There are a few strains on believability, especially when Amy and Craig are spotted after midnight by a classmate's father and by Miss Cogshell. That aside, Amy is a reliable narrator and easily relatable.-Natalie Struecker, Rock Island Public Library, IL

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2013
Grades 6-9 Oral presentations, shunning by the in crowd, a nickname she detests (Shrimp)13-year-old Amy's life seems full of unhappy challenges in her tiny 1970s Maine coastal town, where privacy and individualism are not prized. Only when cool, popular classmate Craig rescues an injured seal pup and entreats Amy to help do events begin to take a turn for the better. The law forbids private ownership of a seal, so the two connive to hide the animal, slowly nursing it back to health. When they enlist the help of Old Coot, the town eccentric most folks have ostracized, the kids bond with the kind woman, and all three of themmake that four with Pupform a strong, mutually beneficial bond. With a deft, convincing touch, Strykowski ably depicts Amy's insecurity and self-doubt, Craig's bravura and pain, and Miss Cogshell's wisdom. In essence, Amy comes of age as she fights to find her voice in the outside world and to shed some of her debilitating insecurity. Readers will cheer her on and her splendid team, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)