Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart

Vera Williams zooms in on a moment of family difficulty and champions the inner strength of two sisters. In free verse accompanied by colored pencil drawings, Williams introduces Amber and Essie, who find solace in each other and support from the neighbors while their mother works and their father is temporarily away. With two accompanying narrators, Barbara Rosenblat captures the fragility of each sister and balances that with resiliency and humor. The interplay of the three voices makes each poignant vignette immediate and tangible. Who is moving in upstairs? What is a "best sandwich"? Who is standing in the doorway? Listen in and look and be ready to laugh and cry. A.R. 2004 ALA Notable Recording (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

Starred review from April 26, 2004
In our Best Books citation, PW
wrote, "Through a pastiche of poems and pictures, Williams presents a moving and timeless portrait of two young sisters in a struggling family." Ages 7-up.