In Gingersnap, a redheaded girl, cast emotionally adrift by World War II, searches for security, love and family. Nine-year-old orphaned Jayna, recently reunited with her brother, Rob--plus a backyard turtle named Louise--have assembled a ragtag family that makes Jayna feel secure and loved. But 1945 is a crucial year in the war, and Rob is drafted. "Rob would leave, and I'd be alone," says Jayna, crushed to lose her newfound security and to live with her landlady until Rob's return.
Rob reassures Jayna that all will work out, and gives her a special rock out of Louise's pond to remember him by. He also gives Jayna an antique recipe book that hints at a heretofore unknown grandmother. So when Rob's ship is reported sunk during the Battle of Okinawa, Jayna feels compelled to locate her long-lost grandmother. Accompanied by Louise the turtle and the mysterious urgings of a ghostly presence, Jayna makes an extensive journey from upstate New York to Brooklyn in search of the reported cookbook-grandmother and a new home.
Patricia Reilly Giff (Lily's Crossing), twice awarded a Newbery Honor citation, again captures the innocence and vulnerability of childhood in this gentle historical novel. Although the ghostly plot element feels a little tangential, the writing style is charming and further enriched by the inclusion of Jayna's favorite soup recipes, and a dash of humor. --Jessica Bushore, former public librarian and freelance writer