Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Mallory On The Move
Illustrator: Tamara Schmitz
Fiction Series
For ages 7 to 9
Lerner, 2004 ISBN: 978-1575058313
Mallory McDonald is an eight and a half year old girl whose life has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Her parents have announced that they are going to move to a town that is three hours away by car, and Mallory is going to have to leave behind the home she loves and, even worse, the girl who has been her best friend since forever.
Mallory cannot believe that her parents would make such a decision without consulting her, and she makes sure that everyone knows how upset and angry she is. Unfortunately, Mallory’s displeasure is not considered important enough to warrant further discussion about the move. Before the McDonalds leave for their new home, Mallory and her best friend Mary Ann promise not to make friends with “any boy next door.” Mallory never imagines that her promise might cause problems in the future.
When they get to 17 Wish Pond Road, Mallory immediately attempts to make friends with Winnie Winston, the girl next door. It soon becomes clear that Winnie is no Mary Ann. In fact, she is an almost-eleven-year-old snooty nuisance. Thankfully Winnie’s brother Joey is nothing like his sister. Joey is Mallory’s age, and the two quickly hit it off.
Joey and Mallory are getting along just fine when Mary Ann writes to Mallory and tells her that she is going to come to visit Mallory soon. Mallory is thrilled that Mary Ann is coming to stay for a weekend, but she is also worried. The girls pinkie swore that they would not makes friends with the boy next door, which is exactly what Mallory has done.
Moving to a new house in a new town can be very traumatic when you are eight and a half (plus one month). Readers will sympathize with Mallory when they see how she feels torn between her old life and her new one, and they will laugh when they read about the pickles that Mallory gets into.
This is the first title of an entertaining and enjoyable series for young readers.
