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Synopsis
Emma McGraw is good at many things. She's good at science. She's good at being a friend. But is she good enough to make her father proud? Suddenly she's not so sure. Her father and stepmother's niece has just won a big prize for horseback riding. How will Emma ever measure up? Before long, she has a plan. Winter Games Day is coming up at school and if Emma trains really hard, she's sure to win her own prize—maybe even more than one! But once the games begin, Emma starts to see that being an excellent athlete isn't the same as being an excellent daughter.
Children's Literature
After receiving an e-mail in which her father boasts about the horseback riding trophy won by his new wife's eight-year-old niece, Emma struggles to contain her emotions. Then, an announcement that her school will hold its First Annual Winter Games Day causes Emma to realize that this competition will be her opportunity to show her father that she, too, is a winner. Book five in the "Emma" series is a true-to-life tale of a sensitive eight-year-old girl who questions her father's love. Emma's uncertainty fades after her mother reassures her that his love is unconditional. Early in this story, readers unfamiliar with the series learn that Emma's insecurities stem from her parents' divorce and her father's remarriage and relocation abroad. Emma's selflessness, steadfastness, and spirit make her an excellent role model for young girls. This title, like its companion books in the series, is ideal for middle readers and their parents to read together and discuss. Reviewer: Mary Jo Edwards