R My Name Is Rachel

Cynthia Holloway captures Rachel's quiet hopes as her family moves to a country farmhouse. The Great Depression forces her father to leave in search of work. All alone, Rachel is forced to find common ground with her two younger siblings. Holloway's liquid, expressive voice depicts Rachel's myriad emotions as her life changes. Listeners will enjoy hearing Rachel try out impressive vocabulary words on farm life. Her wonder at planting a garden can clearly be heard in Holloway's youthful voice. Giff's text helps indicate which child is speaking when Holloway's voices sound similar. And better phrasing would have smoothed out Rachel's short sentences. But Rachel's touching story wraps up too soon. C.A. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

September 19, 2011
Giff's (Storyteller) plaintive yet heartening historical novel introduces a close-knit family devastated by the Depression. After losing his job in the city, Rachel's widower father moves his children to the country, where, to Rachel's sorrow, the school and library are closed for lack of funds ("I can't even cry. No library: the idea is too big for tears"). Meanwhile, Rachel's father finds work that keeps him away from home for months. Left in charge of her younger siblingsâbossy, organized Cassie and reckless, optimistic Joeyâ12-year-old Rachel struggles to scrape together food and rent money, insisting that they will not ask for help: "I have to do this myself. No, not myself. Ourselves." The children transform their dilapidated farmhouse into a home, plant a garden, and turn for help to the bighearted woman who was Rachel's mentor in the city. Rachel's searing, present-tense narrative exposes her fears, determination, and hopefulness in the face of wrenching challenges. Recurring motifsâcolor, flowers, and drawings by a neighbor that Rachel discovers in unlikely placesâadd lyricism to this story of family solidarity. Ages 9â12.