Lisa Railsback

phaned 10-year-old girl, is renamed Betti when she is adopted by a family in America. Before being adopted from her war-torn country, Betti lived with other orphans in an abandoned circus camp. When Betti comes to America, she must learn a new language. She must learn how to eat new food. She must learn new ways of interacting with others. And she must learn to trust her new family. Students will enjoy reading about even the most mundane activity as they experience it through Betti’s eyes.

I just couldn't believe in Betti/Babo or her adoptive family, though some of the other characters felt more real. Perhaps because of that the action all seemed perfunctory, crossing narrative t's and dotting emotional i's.

Fantastic story about a girl named Noonie Norton. She's a quirky kid with art on the brain. She misses her parents, and struggles to find her place in the world with family and friends. Art is her outlet and salvation. The art history descriptions of actual art Masters is a bonus. This story is inspiring and I loved all the eclectic illustrations! Thumbs up!

Why is it Important to Learn from Each Other?