From: Willingboro Public Library <wipl>
Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 10:21:15 -0700

This is my first message after two months of lurking, so please be gentle with me. I recently read Ruth Sawyer's ROLLER SKATES at the suggestion of a friend in the book trade. How I loved it! While the book is dated in some ways, its theme of a girl blossoming in an environment of acceptance and love is timeless. I think it would speak to a child in a restrictive living situation who longs for freedom. I looked forward to booktalking it to a gifted fifth grade but was unsuccessful in piquing their interest. Don't worry, I'll keep tinkering with my approach. While its theme of class prejudice and snobbery is dated (and may even be hard for contemporary children to understand), I think it provides an interesting tie-in to the life of Eleanor Roosevelt, who grew up in a similar milieu and blossomed at boarding school under the care of a loving headmistress. I'm going to try to pair ROLLER SKATES in the future with a biography of ER and see how it goes.

Christine Hill, Willingboro Public Library, One Salem Road, Willingboro NJ 08046
Received on Thu 03 Jul 1997 12:21:15 PM CDT