Family Tree #2: The Long Way Home
Gr 5-7-This installment spans 11 years and focuses on Dana. The book opens on July 7, 1955, as she and her twin, Julia, are celebrating their seventh birthday. Two years later, their younger brother, Peter, enters a school for children with "mental retardation." Their father, Zander, is a famous author, and while he tends to drink too much, the family has a comfortable and exciting life in New York City. However, things take a turn for the worse as the Burleys face unexpected challenges, including Zander's death in an accident, the birth of a child who will be fatherless, and financial insecurity. Martin does a good job of weaving in the history of the time period, including the Cold War and the assassination of President Kennedy. Time moves quickly with each chapter skipping ahead several months. The rapid passage of time and challenging issues may limit the audience, but tweens who have outgrown the "American Girl" series may enjoy this novel that explores the idea of family and home.-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OHα(c) Copyright 2013.  Library Journal. LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.