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"News & Views Relating to Separation & Divorce" Click here to read the article "When Parents Part Ways" Click here to read the article Midwest Book Review Reviewed by Charisse Floyd The first day of any school year is always difficult for eleven-year-old Billie Louise Kramer, but as she approaches the first day of middle school, her anxiety level is off the charts! Billie not only faces the first-day unknowns, but her heart awakens to a mighty crush on a boy in her advanced math class, she delivers the right answer to the right question at the perfect time, and she mends a broken friendship with her best friend Sarah. All of this pales, however, as she realizes something at home is just not right. Doors are closed, whispers are heard, and moods are shifting. Divorce! Billie never saw it coming. Finkel, a graduate of Ohio State University ’s School of Broadcast and Journalism, explores the ups and downs associated with divorce and the uncertainties tossed into the mix of familial relationships. By giving Billie a voice through the first-person point-of-view, the author establishes an instant connection between the reader and the main character. The reader literally feels her foundation crumbling in a most believable way. Her twinges of embarrassment, her humiliation, and her overwhelming desire to be understood, all pull the reader into the delicate tangle of her complicated story. For an even more candid peek into Billie’s internal dialogue, Finkel gives Billie an immediate forum through straightforward diary entries placed at the beginning of each chapter. These entries reveal the dire unrest in the tornado’s spiral and hold nothing back! The author approaches the issue of divorce with honesty and clarity. The family’s disintegration is a true and ominous threat. Billie experiences each and every nuance this unwanted change brings into her life as any other girl her age might in the same situation. Finkel’s treatment is especially sensitive to the maturity level of her readership, but she doesn’t shy away from the realities at hand. Billie’s emotional turmoil reads like an open wound. The author, however, consistently offers hope by empowering her main character with forward movement and a charming sense of humor. Her secondary characters and plot lines work in concert to actively support her heroine’s powerful struggle to make sense of it all. Through this struggle, the reader experiences Billie’s remarkable spirit and applauds her personal victories. In the end, Billie is safe. She learns there is still solace to be found in the loving relationships in her life, that there are lessons to be learned from those who have been in her shoes, and that her precious inner voice will never lead her astray. With these realizations, both Billie and the reader discover a new definition of family. Billie’s World, a glowing debut novel written for ages 9-12, would be a sound choice for classroom discussions about divorce, family dynamics, and emotional coping skills. Finkel, a resident of Rockville , Maryland , writes with raw intensity, allowing her characters room to feel and express what boils within. The dialogue is refreshing, and the arc is as strong and determined as Billie’s will.
Also receiving top honors in the same poll, copy editor for "Billie's World", Jill Ronsley, was awarded first place in the category for best editor. Congratulations Jill! Click here for more.
The publication of "Billie's World" was celebrated June 6 with a launch party. Click here for more. |
