Skip to main content

Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree


EMMA-JEAN LAZARUS FELL OUT OF A TREE; Lauren Tarshis; New York: Dial, 2007; 199 pgs. Fiction
Emma-Jean Lazarus is a Spock-like young lady who relies on logic to make her way through the world. We know this because she speaks without using contractions and she takes everything literally: when she finds Colleen Pomerantz crying in the bathroom because she has been stiffed out of her annual ski trip by the bossy Laura Gilroy, she offers to help and then tricks LG into staying home. This is a sweet little book painted in broad strokes about a girl who not only takes after her logical and somewhat standoffish father, but who shuts down her emotions almost entirely after his death. Emma-Jean Lazarus . . . is about friendship, peer pressure, good-hearted young girls, and tough cookies, and a young lady who makes a conscious decision to come back to life (she is well-named). This book is also welcome for its positive portrayal of religion--one of the book's best characters is a wise and kind Catholic priest.

Comments

2112 said…
An enjoyable, positive book to read. Emma-Jean's transformation was realistic and inspiring.

Popular posts from this blog

De la hora del cuento: La letra "F"

Cuentos Gustavo: el fantasmita timido Por Flavia Z. Drago Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2020. Libro ilustrado. "Conoce a Gustavo. Ɖl es un fantasma y como a cualquier ser paranormal le encanta hacer lo que le es normal: atravesar paredes, hacer volar objetos y brillar en la oscuridad. TambiĆ©n le encanta tocar el violĆ­n. Pero Gustavo tiene un problema. Ɖl es muy, muy tĆ­mido, y aunque su deseo mĆ”s grande es tener amigos, nunca se ha atrevido a hablarle a ninguno de los monstruos en su pueblito. Con el DĆ­a de Muertos cerca, ¿se atreverĆ” Gustavo a dejar que lo vean?" --Editor Cuentitos ¡Yo sola! Por Sumana Seeboruth y Maribel Castells Concord : Barefoot Books, 2023. PequeƱo libro ilustrado. "Yo sola. ¡No, no, no! Puedo hacerlo. ¡Vete, vete, vete! Esta niƱa no quiere que la ayuden ... hasta que su hermana mayor necesita ayuda. ¡El trabajo en equipo es divertido!" --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "F" El bosque en familia Maisy juega fĆŗtbol Lo...

From Story Time: The Letter "F"

Preschool Time Family of Friends Written by Varsha Bajaj Illustrated by Ishaa Lobo New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2025. Picture Book. Isha can't wait for her birthday party. Nani, her fun-loving grandmother, is coming all the way from India to be there! So when Nani has to postpone her trip, Isha is crushed. She no longer feels like celebrating. Fortunately, she has a whole neighborhood of friends to cheer her up, and they all work together to make her day truly special. This moving intergenerational story shows the impact that chosen family can have and is a wonderful reminder to appreciate all the important people in our lives. --Publisher Preschool Time Found By Salina Yoon New York: Walker Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Bloomsbury, 2014. Picture Book. Upon finding a toy rabbit in the forest, Bear tries his very best to return it to its home but by the time its owner appears, Bear has become attached to Bunny. --Editor Toddler Time On All Fours By Gaƫtan DorƩmus Brooklyn...

Review: Alina in Her Roots

Alina in Her Roots Written by Shenaaz Nanji Illustrations by Beena Mistry Toronto, ON : Second Story Press, 2026. J Intermediate. 91 pages. Alina is traveling by herself from her home in Canada to Nairobi, Kenya. But it's more than just a vacation to visit her favorite cousin Safi - Alina is on a secret mission to find her roots. Her family history started in India with her great-great-great-grandparents. Her parents were born in Kenya, then moved to Canada where she was born. She's heard stories about Kenya but wants to know where she fits in and to find what she is missing. Nairobi is a welcoming, vibrant, exciting place where so much feels so different. Alina writes journal entries to her Nani about her experiences, finding ways to make her own stories through matatu rides, trips to the market, a safari, and meals shared with new loved ones. This is a really well-written, cheerful and reassuring realistic fiction about the adventure of exploring different places and cultures...