Miss E.
Children/Young Adult; General Fiction (including literary and historical); (Market)
Being the new kid in town is a way of life for Bets, but moving to California in 1967 is different. Her father leaves for the war in Vietnam, her history teacher gives an assignment that has the whole school searching for clues, and the town's most mysterious resident shares a secret with Bets that has been hidden away for decades. When a peaceful protest spins out of control, Bets is forced to reconsider how she feels about the war her father is fighting and her own role in events taking place much closer to home.
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 8 out of 10
Overall: 8.00 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot: Herberger's plot is consistent, well-conceived, and engaging. The story of Bets and her surprising new friendship in a new town will resonate with readers.
Prose: The author paints a vivid picture of life in small-town California. Readers will find the text easy to read and clear from start to finish. The dialogue between characters is believable and heartwarming.
Originality: A coming-of-age story with a mysterious figure at the forefront is an intriguing premise. It is also refreshing to see a strong teenage female as the protagonist. Bets’s story will inspire readers of all ages.
Character Development: The characters are full of emotion and depth—readers will particularly enjoy seeing Bets and her mother evolve. Through Bets, we also meet other powerful and well-drawn characters.
Date Submitted: June 29, 2018
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 9 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 8 out of 10
Overall: 8.25 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot: Herberger presents young readers with a poignant tale with its share of fast-paced action inspired by historical events.
Prose: Herberger's prose is relatable, believable, and engaging. The writing is clear and suitable to the material.
Originality: Herberger's tale provides a great way to expose students and younger readers to actual historical events. Additionally, the voice the author lends to Bets is unique, and the story is very relevant politically.
Character Development: With Bets, Herberger provides readers an inspiring young heroine. Bets is immediately endearing and appealing to readers as an intelligent, mature, and determined young student.
Date Submitted: August 19, 2017
Reviews
Fifteen-year-old “army kid”
Bets and her parents move to Northern California in July 1967; her father will soon be deployed to Vietnam, and Bets is about to start high school. Bets’s new girlfriends tell her that no one knows much about Miss E., the quiet old woman who drives her red truck into the small town of Forestville once in a while. After her father leaves for the war, Bets and Miss E.’s paths intersect, and the two have a profound effect on each other. Meanwhile, the result of a history project assigned by a free-thinking teacher forces Bets to look at the world in new ways. First-time author Herberger creates an engaging story as he adroitly weaves history and mystery into a coming-of-age tale. Relationships, feminism, civil protest, and respect are among the themes highlighted, though they aren’t explored too deeply. Even so, readers are likely to draw connections between current events and the political climate depicted in the book, and they’ll enjoy the unexpected revelation regarding Miss E.’s identity early on. It’s a polished debut with an inspiring protagonist. Ages 12–up. (BookLife)
