Drita, My Homegirl

I just found another book to add to my "good books" shelf. That's what one of the girls in our PK3-8 school call this particular section in the library. This is where I keep books I think will appeal to girls third through eighth grade. The top of this low bookcase is about shoulder height, just right for browsing books about girls. This is my story, I am the librarian. A first novel, "Drita" is the story of a ten-year old girl who comes with her mother, grandmother, and brother from war-torn Kosova (that is how it is spelled in her country) to join the father, who has worked and saved a year to bring his family over. The females are dismayed by the dirty, unkempt apartment and spend their first few hours cleaning it. The story shifts viewpoint every other chapter. Chapter two begins with Maxie's story. Maxie is African-America with grief in her heart over the loss of her mother in an auto accident two years previously. Wise Ms. Salvato, their fourth grade teacher, gets Maxie interested in Drita and assigns Drita's journey and country to Maxie and Drita as their big project. The two girls do become friends in a most unlikely way. What a sweet and kind friendship it becomes, which, of course, is the main plot. Reverberating around these two are family members whose lives are touched and changed in such loving ways because of this friendship. This book is highly recommended for friendship, geography and history lessons, resolution of family problems for both girls, and the sheer joy of the story. No girl could ask for better!

This review is for the Grades 3-5 Sunshine State Young Readers Award: After a lot of research I have found that there are only 4 books on the list that are appropriate for the younger 3rd grade reader. They are Say What?, Drita My Homegirl, Christopher Mouse and Wildfire. The rest of the list is simply to difficult for the younger readers. My daughter reads at a 3.7 level and even these books have higher vocabulary and more mature subject content then what she usually reads.

"Drita, My Homegirl" is a fun but touching tale of two very different girls, one lost in a strange new country and one brash city girl suffering the loss of her mother. The author does a good job of keeping the characters' voices distinct as she switches back and forth between Drita and Maxie's perspectives. Children will learn in a gentle way about the fear and pain of war and its effects on everyday people, although Drita's mother's depression may be a bit unsettling for sensitive kids. This story tackles some tough issues and leaves us with the lesson that the person inside is what is really important. My fussy-reader fourth grader loved this book which I read aloud to her.

A girl named Drita came to New York City from Kosova because of a war in her homeland. She starts school the day after she arrives in NY. She finds it quite complicated to make friends, when all of a sudden, she meets an African-American girl named Maxie. Maxie doesn't like Drita at first but they soon find out they have alot in common. What changes Maxie's mind about Drita? Why don't you read this book by Jenny Lombard,a NYC school teacher, and find out? It is her 1st novel for children. I enjoyed it very much.

The first fiction novel by Jenny Lombard is a book you will read from start to finish. It is about a girl named Drita and a girl named Maxie. Drita, a refugee from Kosova, must live in a new country. Meanwhile, Maxie, a girl from New York that has lost her mom and has to cope with the loss of her best friend, meets a new girl in school. Could Drita have found a new friend in Maxie? Or will she be a loner in school with no friends forever? A tale of friendship, loss and realizing that it's what's on the inside that matters, Jenny has written a page-turner that you will read from start to finish. I would recommend this book to 4th grade and up. Harry, New York City