What My Sister Remembered

June 1, 1992
Even more impressive than Sachs's prodigious output is her ability to keep material fresh, relevant and convincing. Readers are certain to empathize with her newest protagonist, Molly, an 11-year-old orphan who resists confronting truths about the past. Molly looks forward to seeing her older sister Beth again after their eight-year separation, but when Beth arrives for a visit with her wealthy adoptive mother, she seems to carry a chip on her shoulder and is appallingly rude to Aunt Karen, Molly's guardian. The reasons for Beth's deep-rooted anger do not become clear until the novel's final pages, when family secrets begin to unravel during a dinner party. Rather than focusing on the guilt of particular characters, the author concentrates on relating their various responses to unfortunate circumstances. As always, her writing is sensitive and moving. Resolutions do not come easily; but by the end of the story readers will sense that the expression of painful memories leads to understanding and forgiveness. Ages 10-14.