Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis

At this point, readers are likely to feel suddenly left behind, as, thanks to summary deus ex machina resolutions, everything turns out swell(ish). This leads up to a vicious climactic fight that sees Good and Evil repeatedly switching sides. Growing into their true natures amid revelations and marked physical changes, the two spark escalating rivalry between the wings of the school. Gradually-too gradually, as the author strings out hundreds of pages of Hogwarts-style pranks, classroom mishaps and competitions both academic and romantic-it becomes clear that the placement wasn’t a mistake at all. When it happens to sweet, Disney princess–like Sophie and her friend Agatha, plain of features, sour of disposition and low of self-esteem, they are both horrified to discover that they’ve been dropped not where they expect but at Evil and at Good respectively. Those who survive to graduate become major or minor characters in fairy tales.

9-13)Ĭhainani works an elaborate sea change akin to Gregory Maguire’s Wicked (1995), though he leaves the waters muddied.Įvery four years, two children, one regarded as particularly nice and the other particularly nasty, are snatched from the village of Gavaldon by the shadowy School Master to attend the divided titular school. The story ends on a happy note with the possibility of more adventures to come. Fans will appreciate the continuity and relish the reappearance of familiar characters, especially Ms Wright, the lovable school janitor, and the rest of Emma Jean’s true blue friends. Emma Jean also writes a letter hoping to thwart Vikram, her mother’s boarder-cum-love interest, from moving to the West coast. As the dance draws closer, good-hearted Colleen seeks Emma Jean’s help in unmasking her own secret admirer. The third-person narration alternates between the quirky Emma Jean and her friend, Colleen Pomerantz.

Could it be love? Tarshis deftly weaves in important details from the previous book ( Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree, 2007), providing those new to Emma-Jean some necessary back story. She is perplexed by the odd behavior the seventh graders are exhibiting as they ready themselves for William Gladstone Middle School’s Spring Fling, and she also wonders about the odd, fluttery feeling she experiences every time Will Keeler appears. The eccentric-but-affable Emma-Jean returns with another anthropological foray into the social habits of her fellow classmates.

Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis