When Allie learns that her family will be moving from their apartment in the city to their own home in the country, she's hesitant until she finds out they will be living on a street with the magical name of Strawberry Hill. That changes everything! From Allie's discovery of a nearby farm, to her struggle to reconcile her feelings about 'best friends', Mary Ann Hoberman allows readers to experience the trials and tribulations of small town life during the Depression, as seen through the eyes of a precocious, loveable ten year-old. Strawberry Hill is a character-driven, coming of age story that at its heart is a celebration of friendship and family. Reminiscent of classic stories with feisty heroines like Anne of Green Gables and based loosely on the author's own life experiences, Strawberry Hill will appeal to fans of nostalgic novels like The Penderwicks, Year of the Dog and Blow Out the Moon.

About the Author

Mary Ann Hoberman is the author of the classic A House is a House For Me, which won a National Book Award as well as the bestselling Sing-Along Stories series.

Reviews

In this old-fashioned coming-of-age story, set during the Great Depression, 10-year-old Allie's father finds a new job, and her family moves to a street called Strawberry Hill. Poet and first-time novelist Hoberman draws a full portrait of life on Strawberry Hill-where in fact there are no strawberries-as Allie agonizes over her conflicting feelings about the two other girls on her street: pretty, popular Martha, whom Allie wants as a best friend; and pudgy, sweet Mimi, who wants to be best friends with Allie. Circumstances of time and place are woven into the narrative, from details like the cost of popsicles to larger themes of poverty and prejudice. A number of Allie's friends' fathers are out of work, and Martha's best friend Cynthia calls Allie a "dirty Jew" at one point (Allie notes, "I wondered why I still wanted to be best friends with someone who still wanted to be best friends with someone like Cynthia"). Allie's plight will be utterly relatable to contemporary readers and the resolution is both satisfying and realistic. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. (July) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Gr 3-5-When the Great Depression hits, 10-year-old Allie Sherman's family moves from New Haven to Stamford, CT, where her father has found a job. Once there, she meets Martha, who attends the local parochial school and warns Allie about Mimi, the "crybaby" across the street whose father is a "bookie." While Martha spends time with her friend Cynthia, Allie befriends Mimi. By the novel's end Allie learns what makes a true friend when she realizes that friendship with Martha will always be limited since she is willing to accept Cynthia's cheating and mean-spiritedness. Allie also comes to realize that people can change, even adults. The story comes full circle with a satisfying, generally plausible conclusion as summer is about to begin again. Rich details bring the period to life, from books shared to the nauseating Lucky Strike cigarettes smoked by adults. This is a gentle story with the sensibility of a novel written in an earlier time. Characters are well presented, and secondary figures have telling details. For example, Allie's mother responds quickly and angrily when her child is called a "dirty Jew" by Martha's friend, though it causes an argument with her husband. This can be read independently or shared as a read-aloud.-Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at Washington DC Public Library Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Praise for Strawberry Hill:A New York Times Editor's Choice* "Highly evocative... With story lines that are simple but never simplistic and perfectly crafted chapters in which the ordinary has the opportunity to become special." - Booklist (starred review)"[Hoberman] knows how to bring detail and language into just the right balance...to pull you into the story." - New York Times "Rich details bring the period to life...This is a gentle story with the sensibility of a novel written in an earlier time." - School Library Journal"Allie's plight will be utterly relatable to contemporary readers and the resolution is both satisfying and realistic." - Publishers Weekly