Publishers Weekly
Bodi's affecting debut novel balances a familiar fictional theme with an inventive historical premise. When Marissa abandons Allie for two new best friends, Allie muses, "They're beautiful and great lacrosse players. They're also kind of mean. In our school, you can't get any cooler than that." Hurt, Allie throws out her window her half of the best-friends charm she shared with Marissa and it lands in the swimming pool. When she decides to rescue it from the water, she hears a voice imploring her not to jump. She looks up to find Dorothy May, who jumped off the Mayflower to her death because her husband, William Bradford, did not love her. She tells Allie, who is descended from Bradford and his second wife, "I am a friend come to be of assistance to thee." Through her research for a family-tree project and her conversations with Dorothy (who reappears repeatedly, each time summoned by an image of water), Allie learns a great deal about the harrowing crossing of the Mayflower, about 17th-century life and about the anguish and desperation of Dorothy, who was forced to leave her young son behind in England. Dorothy also provides Allie with friendship that she desperately needs, particularly when she discovers just how mean Marissa's new friends can be. Allie's crisp narrative lends credibility to both strains of plot, each of which comes to a satisfying conclusion. An intriguing postscript: Bodi is a descendant of Bradford's second wife and her first husband. Ages 10-up.
***
ALAN (The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents) Bill’s Best Books
Content with life-long friend Marissa, Allie Toth has no interest in her mother’s obsession with family history. That is until while working on a class project, Allie stumbles upon the ghost of Dorothy May, a true-life person who reportedly committed suicide by jumping into the icy waters from the Mayflower. Dorothy only wants to find her son who she was forced to leave behind when she and her husband boarded ship and headed off to the New World.
Allie is torn between helping Dorothy find peace and struggling to regain favor in Marissa’s eyes after the latter dumps her for new friends who may not be good association. Events climax at a party, when these new friends endanger Allie’s safety and Marissa does nothing to help. Allie learns the hard way that life isn’t about having just one friend. But before she starts anew she must learn to like herself. The novel sheds new light on how learning history can be a delight. (M, RR) Review by Linda Provence.
***
Flamingnet Student Book Reviewer JRam
For as long as Allie could remember, she has been at her best friend, Marissa's side. But 8th grade is here. Soon Allie finds that she is becoming farther and farther from Marissa. While at the same time, coming closer to her Pilgrim Ancestry. When Dorothy May( the wife of her great- great-great-great grandfather who jumped overboard), appears at Allie's side, Allie and Dorothy become friends. 8th Grade is hard, what with bullies, no best friend, and a wacky teacher. But Allie finds her way through it all with just a little help from Dorothy. She may even find a potential boyfriend!
This book is really good! I really enjoyed the fact that the author portrayed what really happens in Junior High. No one really knows for sure what it's like losing a best friend. But it all worked out in the end. Even if there were a few rough bumps in the road. It was also very interesting to see how the Pilgrims were tied into the story. You get a bit of history and modern 8th graders all at the same time. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of history, and life lessons.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: , Illinois U.S.A
