News from Me, Lucy McGee

September 1, 2018
Nine-year-old Lucy McGee is enduring the type of manipulative bullying that's familiar to many grade schoolers.Popular Scarlett (whose bedroom features white carpeting!) invites her to join a new crafts club at her house. Lucy is supposed to be attending a school club, but who can turn down an invitation from someone like Scarlett? Sadly, the first club meeting only involves Lucy cleaning out the filthy garden shed while Scarlett crafts decorations. The following week, Scarlett convinces Lucy to take paint from the art room, telling her the teacher has given permission. Not only is that a lie, but when the pair gets to Scarlett's house, it's Lucy who has to do the messy wall painting while Scarlett rests. Bedazzled by Scarlett, Lucy repeatedly skips the Songwriting Club started by Phillip, a nice classmate who could use a friend. With brief text, characters are only sketched but are fully recognizable nonetheless. Thanks to Phillip's friendly overtures, her parents' gentle guidance, and some soul-searching, spirited Lucy eventually finds a better path to walk than being Scarlett's hapless sycophant, offering a nondidactic message to readers as well. Lucy and Scarlett appear white in Meserve's humorous sketches, but Phillip's skin is a shade darker. The children's spontaneous songs--all cleverly rhymed--are included along with a link to an online audio version.Fun accompanied by useful life lessons. (Fiction. 8-10)

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October 1, 2018

Gr 2-5-Lucy McGee always looks on the bright side of life, but she has a dilemma. Her dad signed her up for the Songwriting Club after school, but at recess one of the most popular girls, Scarlett, told her about the new Craft Club and chose Lucy to help her. Lured by the big surprise that Scarlett promised, she decides to skip the Songwriting Club even though it means disappointing her friend Phillip and lying to her parents. It turns out that getting the Craft Club ready means doing all the work that Scarlett dictates. While cleaning and painting wasn't the surprise she had in mind, Lucy remains enthusiastic. But her lying leads to stealing and necessitates more lying before it all comes crashing down around her, and she learns that she wasn't the only one not telling the truth. Despite her missteps, Lucy turns things around and figures out what it really means to be a friend. Readers will relate to likeable Lucy, who is kindhearted and genuine. Short chapters filled with pen-and-ink illustrations keep readers moving quickly through the action. VERDICT Recommended for libraries in need of short, accessible chapter books.-Laura Fields Eason, Parker Bennett Curry Elementary School, Bowling Green, KY

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2019
Lucy really wants to join Songwriting Club but instead goes to self-centered neighbor Scarlett's Craft Club. Scarlett tricks Lucy into doing all the work and blames Lucy when things go wrong. Eventually, Lucy learns her lesson--and also how to play the ukulele. This charming story of a kid who still loves being a silly, messy kid has spot illustrations that support readers transitioning to longer chapter books.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)