Leona and Ike - Hardcover

Grade 3-5-- A wonderfully true-to-life story of two very different children who become friends through necessity and discover that they really like each other for, or maybe in spite of, their differences. Leona and her new neighbor Ike get off to a rocky start but are soon doing things together because they are both desperate for company. Ike's parents are divorced, he is an only child, and he has an enormous talent for playing the cello. Leona feels very ordinary by comparison; she has two loving parents, a brother and a sister, and no outstanding talents. When Ike's parents suddenly decide that he should leave town and live with his father, the children are devastated and immediately begin to plot his escape. Havill does not dwell on the divorce situation, but is realistic about the pain it causes the boy. The main characters are portrayed as real children; their concerns and reactions are typical of their age group. The pen-and-ink illustrations enhance the changing moods of the story. Sure to be a hit with young readers. --Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this sequel to It Always Happens to Leona , PW said, "Leona's encore appearance is every bit as delightful as her first. The book's child-centered core of respect for the emotional lives of children makes it distinctive and memorable." Ages 7-11.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.