Chelsea and the Outrageous Phone Bill (Best Friends, Book 1)
Grade 5-8-- When her family moves to Michigan, Chelsea is especially hard hit about leaving her longtime best friend. Lonely, she begins to make frequent secret long distance phone calls to Sidney; she is found out when the bill arrives. Stahl uses this situation to illustrate the need for children to obey their parents, to call on God for guidance, and to show the difficulties that arise when they do not. That heavy-handed message overshadows the story; the word ``obey'' is used repeatedly and exclusively, without the relief of synonyms. The parents' advice about God often sounds as if it were being delivered from a pulpit. Also, there is an apparent lack of love among the members of the family--one of the most basic of Christian values. Another problem is that readers never learn how the characters feel about the various scenarios, making their personality changes--such as Mom and Dad's promise to help Chelsea when she confesses--seem sudden. --Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SCCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.