Mimi

June 20, 2011
Irish author Newman's first solo effort and U.S. debut will win readers' hearts through the conversational tone and openhearted observations of elementary schoolâaged narrator Mimi, whose mother died 149 days earlier (she is counting) after being hit by a bus. Mimi's life has settled into something of a routine, with Mimi drawing comfort from her extended family and grandparents, but it's not enough: Mimi's family is falling down around her. Her father burns pizza every night for dinner; laundry and groceries have fallen by the wayside; Mimi does not brush her teeth, is late for school, and only does her homework on Wednesdays; and her older siblings, Sally and Conor, barely talk to Mimi or each other. Newman ably conveys a family hanging together by a thread; that Mimi, who is Chinese, is adopted is nearly incidental to the plotâuntil a climactic scene in which she stands up to a school bully. Closing chapters, set six months after the rest of the book's events, provide just enough hope to reassure readers without minimizing the struggles the family has overcome. Ages 8â10.

September 1, 2011

Gr 4-6-Mimi's mother was killed in an accident 149 days ago, and the entire family-father, older brother, and older sister-is still grieving and unable to cope with daily life. The children's father sits at home all day and cooks burnt pizza for dinner, Sally has a horrible secret (according to her diary), and Conor plays drums until late into the night. Mimi can't get to school on time, doesn't do her homework, and misses Mammy terribly. She does regularly see her extended family, giving her some structure and continuity. And all is not dark in Mimi's life-she has a good friend who tells her jokes and stands up for her at school, supportive teachers, and a cousin who is a fun playmate, and the lighthearted bickering of her grandparents is humorous. But a tipping point is looming for this family, and it comes when Sally is accused of stealing from a neighborhood shop and runs away after a fight with their father. His worry and fear finally wake him up, and he knows he has to bring the family back together. With just enough humor to keep readers engaged and a protagonist to whom they can relate, Newman adeptly portrays a family on an emotional edge. He also subtly lets readers figure out that Mimi is Asian and adopted-it is not a big part of her story, just reality.-Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2011

A family struggles to get back on track after a bereavement.

"Monday--149 days since Mammy died," heads chapter one, conveying the shape of Mimi's world. Mimi walks through her days leaning on routine: "Monday is Granny's day," when she visits Granny and Grandad after school; Tuesday it's one aunt, Wednesday another. Older siblings Sally and Conor meet her there, and they converge back at home for the evening, where Dad nightly burns a pizza that Mimi tosses to the dog. Grieving dysfunctionally, Dad barely registers his kids besides scorching supper for them. Mimi does no homework; tooth-brushing is ignored. Newman's simple, uncluttered narration skillfully reports action more than emotion, even when the action is crying. Buoying the vibe is ongoing humor--would a goth kid enjoy burnt food because it's black? Why is the pregnant teacher having "contraptions" in class? Mimi seeks connection to Sally via reading Sally's hidden diary, which Sally accusingly addresses to a certain younger-sister spy. Missing Mammy (and Dad, although he's right there), Mimi confronts a school bully and processes her own wish "that I hadn't gotten slanty eyes." However, readers are secure that this extended Irish family considers (adopted, Chinese) Mimi to be 100% their own beloved girl.

Unassuming prose does the trick for this sad and funny tale with a warm ending. (Fiction. 8-10)

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