The Chicken Pox Party (Annie K.'s Theater) - Softcover

Grade 2-4-- A series with a gimmick: each book contains a short novel and a related play. But even children who love to put on plays may not be interested. Annie K. is nine. Her friends are all younger (in fact, Georgia is only four, and the others treat her like an equal--just one of the implausibilities here). When Harriet, a new girl, shows up in the neighborhood, Annie's overactive imagination constructs a mystery around her. Is the girl's stepmother's constant concern with Harriet's whereabouts ominous? Is Harriet being held prisoner in her own home? For some readers, these questions may spark a bit of interest, and Annie's enthusiasm and curiosity render her somewhat sympathetic and convincing. The play itself, involving kings, queens, sorcerers, and hula hoops, adds an occasional touch of humor, but not much else. The plodding writing style and the stock characters make this a book to avoid. Even the "Babysitter's Club" entries (Scholastic) have more going for them. --Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.