Title:

Reaching for Sun                                                  'Tween #2

Author:

Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

Illustrator:

Publisher:

Bloomsbury

Date:

2007

ISBN:

1599900378

# of Pages (Readership):

144 (‘Tween)

Genre

Realistic fiction

Diversity

Disabilities, social class

Plot Summary:

In this novel in verse, Zimmer portrays the inner and external life of Josie Wyatt, a 13-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. Josie who lives with her mother and grandmother wants to be treated as “normal,” but mother is constantly getting her extra academic help as well as physical therapy. Gran is a wise gardener who cares of Josie while Mom works and goes to college. When Josie befriends new boy Jordan who moves into rich part of neighborhood. (Jordan lives with single workaholic father.) Josie and Jordan share love of science and gardens. When Gran has a stroke, Josie’s family dynamics change.

Illustrations:

An increasingly developed flower sketch on the bottom right-hand corner of each poem reflects the metaphor of coming of age.

Theme(s):

The vagaries of life build character and make us unique as human beings.

Personal Response:

The poems reveal Josie’s awakening sexuality, the social pressures of middle school, and her changing role in her family. Favorite poems: “jewels” (p. 67), “ripples of sunlight” (p. 96), “god-sized broom” (p. 117), and “ping” (p. 167).

Curricular or Programming Connections:

Strong characterization

Friendship

Family structures

Disabilities