Under the Bottle Bridge

June 15, 2017
Twelve-year-old Minna Treat makes a new friend and learns something new about an old one as she grapples with the expectations of family and community in Gilbreth, a small New York town dedicated to the perpetuation of traditional crafts. Minna's first-person narration is wry and articulate. Raised by her sole known relative, her uncle, after the untimely deaths of her mother and grandparents, Minna has read far more than her share of parenting books. Their droll titles and humorously pat advice are sprinkled throughout; excerpts from a history of the town head each chapter and provide additional context. With an important contest looming, questions about the identity of her unknown father beginning to feel more urgent, her uncle's (mostly hidden) anxiety about their finances, and the recent election of a mayor intent on modernization and improvements, Minna has plenty to ponder. The addition of mysterious messages found in glass bottles, the mayor's awkward daughter, and Minna's best friend's suddenly secretive behavior gives readers lots to think about too as they follow Minna's adventures in the month preceding the annual Autumnfest. Lawson creates an engaging cast of characters, most apparently white, and keeps the tone light and the plot moving so that Minna's adolescent angst is entertaining rather than distressing. Not every mystery is resolved, but readers will likely still be pleased with the outcome. (Fiction. 8-12)

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August 1, 2017

Gr 4-7-Minna Treat is a well-grounded young lady, especially considering she's been twice orphaned: first when her mother died when Minna was two, then again after her grandparents were killed when she was five. Now Minna contentedly lives with her uncle Theo in Gilbreth, a town renowned for its craftsmen, and her biggest concern is her nonexistent entry for Gilbreth's prestigious junior artisan competition. When Minna finds a mysterious message in a bottle under Whistler Bridge, it provides a welcome distraction and begins a quest to find the father she has never known. Subsequent notes left under the bridge lead Minna on a trail discovering her family's contributions to the town's history. Aided by old friend Crash (an inept member of a glassblowing family) and new friend Grace, daughter of the town's mayor (who wants to develop Gilbreth), Minna attempts to solve the mystery of the messages and determine the identity of her father. But in her effort to unwind the puzzle of her heritage, she almost misses her larger family: the town's close-knit artisan community. In turn, Minna may save Gilbreth from the developers. Minna is a wry, amusing narrator, given to frequently quoting her uncle's many parenting books. She views herself as a well-adjusted child, but she has never come to terms with her mother's death, convinced there is no need to mourn someone she does not remember. In searching for family, Minna achieves far more than she anticipates. Beautifully written, with vivid characters, this exploration of family and friendship shines from the first page. VERDICT A fine purchase for middle grade collections. Give to fans of Holly Goldberg Sloan's Counting By 7s.-Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor School District, Lancaster, PA

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