I'm Emma: I'm a Quint - Hardcover

Stella Pevsner is the author of many popular books for middle-grade readers, most recently IS EVERYONE MOONBURNED BUT ME? She lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Grade 5-8-This well-constructed sequel to Sister of the Quints (Clarion, 1987) is written in Pevsner's breezy, yet intimate style that adolescents love. At first glance, Emma seems like any other 13 year old. She is unsure about how to relate to boys and thinks that taking acting lessons might be an easy way to fame and glamor. But Emma has a secret; she's a quintuplet. Afraid that publicity and unearned attention might somehow harm the children, her father has turned away many lucrative offers and enrolled them in different schools. He stresses that they must be brought up as unique individuals, not a commercial package; so it's confusing and hurtful to Emma when he angrily refuses to allow her to be maid of honor in her half-sister Natalie's wedding because he wants all of the siblings treated equally. As the conflict between Natalie and her father escalates and quint sister Alice continues to talk secretly with a reporter, Emma wonders what she can do to bring her family together again. Pevsner has created some wonderful characters and humorous situations. Gypsy is perfect as Emma's self-confident, mostly self-reared, best friend who tries to give the real lowdown on how boy-girl telephone relationships work. And Emma, who realizes she must eventually make her own decisions about life, is a questioning child whom readers should enjoy.
Cindy Darling Codell, Clark Middle School, Winchester, KY
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.