Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 3^-5. The two newest additions to Moss' Amelia series, with its characteristic black-and-white notebook look, include a diary and a book of correspondence between Amelia and her friend Nadia. All-New finds Amelia under the influence of a new girl in class. British, beautiful, and instantly popular, Charisse inspires Amelia to remake herself into a new, improved model, but by book's end, Amelia decides to be her old self again. Luv, Amelia is a more original book, but the inclusion of four pull-out letters within envelopes stuck to the pages (remember Ahlberg's Jolly Postman books?) may give librarians pause. If the letters disappear, readers will feel they're missing something, though the story doesn't really depend on them. Amelia's friend Nadia writes about looking after her ailing father while her mother works, and Amelia starts to wonder about her own father, who evidently left shortly after she was born. The correspondence makes engaging reading. As usual, Moss' Amelia-style drawings brightly illustrate the child's first-person notebooks. Sure to be requested by Amelia's fans. --Carolyn Phelan
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-Amelia is back, pen and markers in hand, with two more journal installments. In The All-New Amelia, she struggles with her identity when a new student enters her class. Amelia loves everything about Charisse-her British accent, polished nails, and glossy lips. In an attempt to get the new girl's attention, Amelia changes her image. However, her efforts only alienate her from her true self-and from her true friends. In the end, she realizes that it's best to be herself. In Luv, Amelia Luv, Nadia, the two girls continue their friendship through a series of postcards and letters, some of which readers can remove from their envelopes. The friends are looking forward to going trick-or-treating in their respective states. However, Nadia is forced to cancel her plans when her father is injured in a car accident. In their letters, Amelia begins to wonder about her own father whom she has never met. Nadia encourages her to try to contact him. Moss's writing is sharp, witty, and humorous. The last page suggests that another notebook is on the way.-Lisa Gangemi Krapp, Rockville Centre Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
As in the Amelia journals, Moss uses a handwritten diary format for Rose's story of the Depression. RoseÆs older brother runs away to New York City to escape the Kansas dust storms, but Rose is determined to help save the family farm. Illustrated mostly with small sketches, the book also includes some archival black-and-white photographs. This moving chronicle is written in a believable voice. From HORN BOOK Spring 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
