Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head
Grade 3–6—Samantha Hansen loves studying rocks, so when her mother announces that she is taking Sam and her 15-year-old sister on a vacation to the Grand Canyon, the fourth grader is in heaven. First, though, Sam has to learn to control her temper—not an easy task when her big sister seems to delight in provoking her, and when a classmate taunts her at recess and causes her to end up in the principal's office. Sam's mother comes close to canceling, and it is only Sam's redoubled efforts to count to 10 when she knows that she is about to lose control that enable the plans to go forward. During the trip, Sam discovers more about the death of her father when she was younger, and she and her sister learn to appreciate one another a little more in spite of the ongoing sibling squabbling. Overall, Sam is an engaging and realistically drawn protagonist, although some of her mannerisms are a little too reminiscent of Junie B. Jones and what works for a first grader isn't as appealing in a fourth grader. Nonetheless, Sam's love of science is refreshing, and Viau does a nice job of incorporating information about the Grand Canyon and the study of geology into the story line. Readers will easily relate to Sam as she tries to make sense of the world around her.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.