Julie's journey

The American Girl franchise adds a new character to its list. In'70s California, Julie Albright and best friend Ivy navigate the pitfalls of growing up as well as the major social changes of the era in seven books, all penned by Megan McDonald and illusrated by Robert Hunt. Meet Julie introduces the new American Girl; Julie Tells Her Story finds Julie dealing with the repercussions of her parents' divorce; in Happy New Year, Julie, Ivy's family invites the Albrights over for the Chinese New Year; Julie and the Eagles centers around the best friends' efforts to raise money to care for two injured bald eagles; Julie's Journey centers on the celebration surrounding America's Bicentennial; and Changes for Julie sees the fifth-grade girl running for class president. A seventh title, Good Luck, Ivy, focuses on Julie's best friend, who uses gymnastics to cope with stress. (American Girl, $6.95 each paper ages 8-up Meet 104p ISBN 9781-59369-257-5; Her Story 104p ISBN 9781-59369-288-9; New Year 88p ISBN 9781-59369-291-9; Eagles 88p ISBN 9781-59369-350-3; Journey 88p ISBN 9781-59369-352-7; Changes 104p ISBN 9781-59369-354-1; Ivy 96p ISBN 9781-59369-356-5; Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Gr 2-5-McDonald does an excellent job of developing characters who reflect the 1970s, and keeping the action moving. In Changes, fifth-grader Julie has a new friend, who is deaf, and she runs for school president. In the second title, she takes a baby owl to a wildlife rescue center where she encounters bald eaglets and learns that these birds are an endangered species. In Journey, Julie joins her cousins on a wagon train in Pennsylvania, re-creating the pioneer journey in a Bicentennial celebration and collecting signatures to present to President Ford. Each book has occasional full-page paintings as well as spot art. Back matter includes historical facts and photographs pertaining to the events mentioned, such as DDT, inclusion for disabled people, and presidential elections. These books will hold students' interest.-Sharon R. Pearce, Longfellow Elementary School, Oak Park, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.