Rosa, Sola (review)
2006; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 59; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.2006.0062
ISSN1558-6766
Autores ResumoReviewed by: Rosa, Sola Karen Coats Martino, Carmela A. Rosa, Sola. Candlewick, 2005 [256p] ISBN 0-7636-2395-4$15.99 Reviewed from galleys Ad Gr. 4-7 Envious of her best friend's new baby brother and lonely in her world full of adults, Rosa, the only child of Italian immigrants, prays every day for a baby brother. God seemingly obliges, but the baby is stillborn and Rosa's mother has to have a hysterectomy, leaving Rosa sola once more. She is initially bitter toward her godmother, Aunt Ida, who unwittingly tramples on Rosa's feelings at every turn, and she's angry at God, but she softens and turns to prayer to help her family heal. Aided by the loving care of Uncle Sal, Aunt Ida, and a kindly old neighbor, Rosa begins to see that the good things in her life outweigh the bad, and she is ready to move forward, especially when her mother begins to show signs of recovery. Set in the 1960s in Chicago, Martino's autobiographically rooted story offers undemanding text and a focus on family life that gives the book an old-fashioned innocence; the narrative reflects the attitudes prevalent at the time, especially that children's emotions are simple and that their deepest hurts are easily mended by a few wise and well-timed adult interventions. The episodes prior to the pregnancy read like sentimental ads to prove that Rosa's parents deserve more children: during a day at the beach, for instance, Rosa's mother is the only adult who can comfort and successfully communicate with a lost child. However, the sure-handedness of the adults and the effectiveness of grief's resolution might make this an accessible and comforting story for younger readers. Copyright © 2006 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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