I found this book incredibly disappointing. The first section of the book has almost nothing to do with the second section and, overall, nothing really happens. It establishes the friendship between Jessica and Elisa, but that's about it. We don't need to know about the Joys and about the convict and what was going on between Jessica's father and brother or mother or anybody. None of that adds anything to the story line, if you could really say this even has one. The first section doesn't even do a good job setting the tone of the time period, which was during the Great Depression. You hear about all the gangsters, yes, and the hobo camps and car repossessions were mentioned as well, but overall, you don't get a real feel for what was going on at the time.

The most important part, I'd say is the correspondence between the two girls after Elisa's family goes back to Germany, which isn't until the second section, and by then the book is almost over. Page 177, that's when the book starts getting interesting and you actually get a feel for what is going on. That's over three quarters of the way into the book!

I would not suggest reading this. In fact I'd almost consider this book a waste of paper, and I never thought I'd say that about any book. Save yourself the trouble. If you don't have to read it, don't waste your time. ( )

A very moving and involving novel about friendship with a unique setting--1930s upstate New York. The book is divided into two parts. The first, a standard YA novel of friendship, the second, an exchange of letters that are increasingly heartbreaking. This book accurately shows what adolescent friendship can be, and how those once close can grow so far apart. ( )