The Naked Mole-Rat Letters by Mary Amato

From the Publisher

When her father begins a long-distance romance with a Washington, D.C. zookeeper, twelve-year-old Frankie sends fabricated e-mail letters to the zookeeper in an attempt to end the relationship in this story about family, friendship, and growing up.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-7-Frankie Wallop is shocked when she reads an e-mail sent to her widowed father by a woman he met recently. Not only does it sound as though the two have spent time together, but also that there was a kiss involved. Immediately taking the situation in hand, the 12-year-old responds to Ayanna with the sound advice to never write her dad again-he is much too busy with his family, especially Frankie's two younger brothers who have some sort of horrible disease. Now that she has sorted that out, she can turn her attention to the upcoming audition for the school play, convinced that the lead will be hers. Frankie is about to find out that life does not always follow one's plans. Not only does Ayanna keep writing back, asking Frankie about her life and describing her own job as the keeper of the naked mole-rats at the National Zoo, but unhappy thoughts that her father might remarry also keep creeping into her mind. Not getting the part in the play is also a deep blow, and she does not know how to cope. The straight-A student finds herself ditching school, lying to her teachers, shutting out her best friend, and ignoring the needs of her younger brothers. Through the e-mails to Ayanna and her own diary entries, readers follow Frankie's struggles with disappointment, anger, loss, and growing up. Only after a family crisis does she finally talk with her father and begin to work things out. A fairly predictable story, but one with solid relationships and refreshing characterizations.-Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Seventh-grader Frankie Wallop has enough problems: No mother, two wild younger brothers and a perfect reputation to uphold. She certainly does not need a father who is dating, especially if he's distance dating a naked mole-rat expert who lives in Washington D.C. From their home computer in Pepper Blossom, Ind., Frankie tries to nip the relationship in the bud by intercepting e-mails and sending false responses. One lie leads to another and soon her life is in shambles. Her grades slip; a pizza fire that's her fault blackens their kitchen; one brother is spying incessantly and the other is missing. Help comes from an unexpected source: Ratlady-and all ends well. Shifting between e-mails and diary entries, Amato does a good job of portraying Frankie's inner turmoil and creating the atmosphere of a very small town. At times, the convention of the diary entry seems forced; there is length and detail a bit out of proportion with Frankie's age and free time. However, middle-graders looking for a realistic summer read with laughs and a few misty-eyed moments won't be disappointed. (Fiction. 8-12)

Product Details