Billie's World

However, Billie's problems at home loom over her problems at school. Her parents, who always seemed to get along, are getting divorced. Her dad even has a new girlfriend. Billie has to deal with all these problems, come to terms with her new family, and come out singing.

Billie's World by Kim Grossman Finkel is a great read for girls approximately ages 9-12, a bit younger than I am. My parents are happily married, so I sometimes found it hard to relate to Billie's family problems. I wasn't sure how realistic the book was, and the happy ending seemed a bit contrived and predictable. I thought that while it was a good book, I was too old to enjoy it.

However, my opinions changed when just a week or two later, my friend at camp began describing her parents' divorce. She mentioned going through many of the exact same things Billie does. She couldn't believe that her parents would split up when her family was so happy. She was nervous and self-conscious at school. She thought everyone was talking about the divorce behind her back and didn't know which of her friends to trust. She had to deal with her parents' new girlfriends and boyfriends.

As I looked at Billie's World from my friend's perspective, I began to really see the poignancy of the book. The reader begins to feel what Billie must feel, to empathize with her. While the book is meant for girls younger than I am, I was truly moved by Billie's story.

Melissa Freilich is a freshman at Shaker Heights High School. She lives with her parents, Louise and Joel, and two brothers. She was honored twice in the Power of the Pen competition.