Review by Booklist Review
Sal expects her first day of first grade to be outstanding, but she's disappointed. Instead of joining her best friend, Griff, in classroom 1A with young, lively Ms. Flowers, she's in 1B with Ms. McCormick, a kind, older teacher. Tension mounts when Griff befriends two boys and spends less time with Sal. Nothing seems to go her way. When Brooke, the woman cutting Sal's hair, hears that Sal's in Ms. McCormick's class, she fondly recalls her happy year as a first-grader with Ms. McCormick. Given her love for Ms. Flowers, Sal is surprised to hear such glowing praise of her teacher. Struggling with complex emotions, she doesn't feel like herself; two unexpected encounters help her move forward. After all, as Papa tells her, "You're still Sal." The Year of Billy Miller (2013), a Newbery Honor Book, was the first volume in Henkes' Miller Family Story series. This is the second book, featuring Sal, Billy's sister. Throughout the narrative, spot illustrations feature items mentioned rather than people, letting kids imagine the characters on their own. Sometimes poignant, sometimes amusing, the story moves along steadily. Sal's observations and the thoughts flitting through her mind bring her world to life. An engaging, perceptive early chapter book.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
