Camille McPhee Fell Under the Bus

Starred review from November 1, 2009
Gr 3-5-Camille, a fourth-grader who lives in rural Idaho, literally slides on the ice and under the school bus. Though she's fine, she decides to stay home for the day, having plenty to worry about. Her best friend, Sally, who recently moved to Japan, hasn't written as promised, so Camille has resolved to act like the dingo that she saw at the zoo, ignoring the pack and refusing to become involved with anybody around her. Though Polly, her neighbor, attempts friendship, Camille is determined to remain a loner. When her parents decide to try out a brief separation, Camille feels that the only person she can talk to is her aunt, who lives far away. Despite her problems, Camille truly is resilient and eventually figures out a new approach. As winter turns to spring, she and Polly begin to build a friendship, her parents begin to work out their issues, and Sally's mail finally arrives (having been delayed by a zip-code snafu). Camille falls down a few times but always manages to bounce back. Everything isn't rosy; instead, there's growing appreciation that life isn't perfect for anyone. The lively, first-person narrative moves readers through possibly banal or overly traumatic episodes with a gentleness and humor that has them rooting for Camille. This book about friendship and loss kindly teaches that life is pretty much what one is willing to make of it."Sheila Fiscus, Our Lady of Peace School, Erie, PA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2009
Grades 2-4 Fourth grade is rough and lonely for Camille after her best friend leaves her small Idaho town, and her beloved cat disappears. Camille knows her parents both love her. What worries her is how much they seem to hate each other. Heaven sounds like a pretty fantastic place, except for the fact that you had to be dead to get there. Camille's anger and sadness drive this first novel's wry, lively narrative. There are no heavy messages and lots of humorous slapstick details at home and in the classroom. Camille does finally stand up to bullies who torment her, and she reaches out to make a friend, but there is still a lot to cope with, from her clumsy science-fair project to her parents heartbreaking separation. Middle-grade readers will enjoy the insiders viewpoint, the blend of farce and sorrow, and the ending, which brings no neat resolution, just a yearning for a world that feels a little more fair.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2010
Amiable and perceptive fourth grader Camille misses her best friend, who moved to Japan, and worries about her parents' constant arguments over money. Camille, a hypoglycemic, must also be careful about the food she eats. Camille's fourth-grade voice is a little too polished to be completely believable, but her engaging tale is funny and sweet without being syrupy.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)