Ellen's Case

School Library Journal

Gr 6-10-In Barry's Sister (Atheneum, 1992), Ellen Gray secretly wished that the unborn ``Gray baby'' might disappear, and struggled to free herself from the belief that her wish caused his disability. In this sequel, a trial is scheduled to consider medical malpractice charges-four-year-old Barry's cerebral palsy might have been the result of a birth trauma. When attorney Jack Frazier visits her mother, Loretta, to discuss procedures, Ellen is attracted to him and decides that she, too, will be part of the courtroom cast. The detailed proceedings are the heartbeat of the story. From Loretta's courageous testimony to the jury's somber proclamation, the plot accelerates through the courtroom scenes. It is during a private visit with the judge that Ellen finally learns that the trial is for her protection and Barry's care when their parents are no longer able to care for him. Metzger once again demonstrates exceptional skill at building and then peeling back the intricate layers of her characters. Their thoughts, emotions, and actions are solidly consistent throughout. Ellen's imagined romance with Jack Frazier adds interest, as does the promise of a future friendship with a young man who also has CP. An understanding of CP is also introduced, not by way of a lecture, but through the sensitive portrayal of family members who love, accept, and value one another.-Sarabeth Kalajian, Venice Public Library, FL