Rachel's Roses

"This is a sweet story that will resonate with readers who have siblings and knowledge of hand-me-downs. Rachel is annoyed by her little sister, Hannah, who wants to be just like her. . . . Rachel pines for anything that stands apart from Hannah’s apparel and discovers three glass buttons with red roses that she must have. After haggling with the shopkeeper the buttons are laid-away and Rachel demonstrates both motivation and discipline in saving her pennies to pay off the cost of the buttons. Rachel’s self-discovery of what matters—spoiler: it isn’t buttons—is treated naturally, without resorting to moralizing. Syntax is tight and well-constructed throughout and Grandma Bubbie’s wise sayings add a sparkle to the text." —School Library Connection

"Wolff has constructed a sweet, nostalgic vignette of early-20th-century immigrant New York City, alluding to the difficulties but stressing the goodness. Rachel and her family, friends, and neighbors are not anachronisms or caricatures but are entirely accessible to modern readers. Lucas' lovely black-and-white drawings, reminiscent of Helen John's in Sydney Taylor's All of a Kind Family (1951), are perfectly in sync with the spirit of the text. Hope, love, determination, and kindness abound."—Kirkus Reviews 

"A gentle and accessible slice of historical fiction to give to readers moving on from chapter books, or to offer as a gentle read-aloud for younger children."—School Library Journal