SuitabookRatfink
Marcia Thornton Jones
- Reading
- Read alongside the child rather than pre-explaining the dilemma. Pause when the grandfather’s forgetfulness or Emily’s actions affect Logan, and revisit the ending together, since the consequences are not given here.
- Themes
- Changing family responsibilities: Logan is embarrassed by his grandfather’s increasing forgetfulness but does not want his parents to send him away. The book?s stance on this remains unclear.
- Reputation, loyalty and truth: Emily tries to make Logan look as though he betrayed his best friend, Malik, and an embarrassing photograph increases the pressure. The premise creates a bounded dilemma about how appearances, evidence and loyalty can affect friendship; it does not establish which response the book endorses.
- Worth knowing
- Consider whether the treatment of Logan’s grandfather, the school conflict and the embarrassing photograph feels respectful, funny, troubling or balanced as the story develops.