The Birthday Storm

Nine-year-old Sassy is the youngest member of her close-knit family. She lives in Ohio with her mom and dad, her 16-year-old sister, Sadora, and her 12-year-old brother, Sabin. It's summer vacation, and they will be flying to Florida to visit Sassy's grandparents. This visit is even more special than usual because it is Grammy's birthday, and a huge party on the beach is planned. There will be tons of food, an enormous cake, and even a band. One item that Sassy can't leave home without is her "Sassy Sack," a special gift that her grandmother gave her a couple of years ago. After making sure she fills her Sassy Sack with all the essentials, including her lucky pink bathing suit, the family heads to the airport. Everyone gets through security without any trouble...everyone, that is, except Sassy. She feels scared and embarrassed to be singled out, and then angry and violated when security has to search through her Sassy Sack. The family finally arrives in Florida, and everyone has great fun spending time with Grammy and Poppy while swimming, playing on the beach, and watching the sunset and the stars. Sassy and Grammy even take a walk down the beach together and make quite a discovery --- a sea turtle nest filled with eggs. Sassy is having a blast, but part of her can't help but worry about the weather forecast. A hurricane is heading in their direction, and they all hope the storm will blow out or veer away from land. Just in case, though, they board up the windows and shop for supplies. Despite wishing it away, the hurricane stubbornly plows ahead, straight for Grammy's house --- and on her birthday no less. Then Sassy remembers the turtle nest. It lies far too close to the ocean to survive the pounding waves. What will happen to the endangered turtle eggs? To Sassy and her family? Sharon M. Draper has won a plethora of awards for her books and has even been recognized at the White House more than once. Her talents continue to flow in this second installment of the Sassy series. Sassy is a wonderful character: smart, funny, spirited and kind, with a ripened outlook on the world that will make readers smile. Draper uses distinct sensory descriptions that bring the pages to life, and cleverly weaves interesting tidbits of information into the story so readers will learn about hurricanes and sea turtles without feeling as if they're being taught. Clearly, she cares very much about nature and the environment, and readers will absorb this respect through her truly awesome story. SASSY: THE BIRTHDAY STORM is full of heart and spark, and I look forward to an encore very soon. --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman