Blundell, Judy A City Tossed and Broken: San Francisco,
California, 1906: The Diary of Minnie Bonner (Dear America), 197 p. Scholastic,
2013. Content: PG (danger from the
earthquake and threats).
Minnie
Bonner is a virtual slave – sold for two years of work as a lady’s maid to a
family moving from Philadelphia to San Francisco, working off a debt incurred
by her father. The man of the house
is involved in shady dealings and he is the actual cause of her family’s
downfall. So when a gigantic
earthquake puts opportunity in her way, Minnie decides to grasp a better life
with both hands. Sometimes it
takes a real danger to keep us honest.
Blundell does a reasonable job of integrating the earthquake into
Minnie’s story. What she does best
is show life at the time, including the good and the ugly of humanity, from
friendships to scheming businessmen.
It is very nice to see new entries in the Dear America series and new
covers for the older books. I am
hoping that my students will enjoy them as much as the kids did ten years
ago.
EL, MS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher
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