Double Dutch

Kliatt, July, 2003 by Edna M. Boardman

DOUBLE DUTCH. Sharon M. Draper. 2002. Read by Patricia R. Floyd. 4 tapes. 5 hrs. Recorded Books. #97414. 1-4025-3127-3. $36.00. Vinyl; plot, reader notes.

J

When a set of twin boys enter the eighth grade in an inner city junior high school, their sometimes threatening manner sets off a fear reaction in both students and teachers. This novel deals with this and other issues of surviving school life. The point-of-view characters are a group of girls and one boy, friends since they were children. They are a bunch of good kids who do their schoolwork, help each other when problems arise, practice for and participate in athletic events (they take the good sportsmanship pledge), and chatter about their family and-boys. Things happen that shouldn't, of course, as when the father of the boy disappears and the boy secretly lives on his own for two months. But in the end, they're all coping quite well. Teachers and students like each other, the sinister twins save the day when a tornado strikes the school, a girl admits she can't read, they take home two trophies, and the boy learns what befell his father (he was injured in an accident).

Teachers and librarians looking for clean literature about young people, their lives, and relationships will find this to be not great literature but a good choice. Floyd's reading is warm and kid friendly; one feels she really enjoys spending this time with her young characters. Draper won the Coretta Scott King Award for Forged By Fire. Edna M. Boardman, Bismark, ND