Rear-View Mirrors

Gr 8 Up—The audiobook version of Fleischman's book (HarperCollins, 1986) about a girl trying to live up to the expectations of her father, whom she hasn't seen since she was a baby, is brief and touching, but slightly flat on occasion. This is a result of the brevity of the story itself as well as Monica Willey's narration. The story is told alternately in present tense and flashbacks. Listeners realize that there will be an emotional encounter between Olivia and her somewhat disaffected father after she receives a letter from him inviting her to visit for the summer. When Olivia arrives at her father's home, she learns that he's trying to determine if she is worthy of inheriting his legacy. The story weaves back and forth between that summer and the current one during which Olivia is determined to complete the exact biking trip her father had taken. The pacing of the narration is measured and the transitions between past and present are well done. The emotional transitions are less clear and at times seem off-balance. There are gaps in the story left intentionally by the author, but they also leave the narrator and listeners less engaged in what should have been a poignant journey of self-discovery and healing. Purchase only if the print book is still in your collection.—Stephanie A. Squicciarini, Fairport Public Library, NY