Emma Dilemma, the Nanny, and the Secret Ferret (Emma Dilemma series)
Grade 2–4—Emma cannot stand the thought of spending the entire summer away from her beloved ferret. Even though she knows she's breaking her mother's rules, she smuggles Marmaduke on the family trip to Maine. Once there, she learns that he isn't her biggest issue. A new neighbor wants to cut down her favorite tree so he'll have a better view of the lake. Now Emma finds herself trying to keep her pet hidden from her parents, trying to save her tree, and trying to stay out of trouble. This fifth book about Emma will appeal to her fans as well as to girls stepping up from Junie B. Jones. The child is somewhat selfish at times, but the nice thing about the book is that it sends the message that sometimes we judge people too harshly. Even though Emma sees the new neighbor as the enemy, there is a really nice moment at the end of the book that shows how complex people are. This addition to the series has a surprisingly sweet ending and should please fans.—Elizabeth Swistock, Jefferson Madison Regional Library, Charlottesville, VA(c) Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.