Gingersnap

Publishers Weekly

Giff smoothly intertwines threads of loss, displacement, hope, family, and the soothing power of food (especially soup) in a quiet but emotionally charged novel set during WWII. Jayna—nicknamed Gingersnap by her mother, who died in a car accident along with the girl’s father—feels understandably alone after her only relative, her older brother Rob, goes missing while serving in the Navy. Inspired by items from her mother’s past that she finds, and urged on by the voice of a ghost, Jayna packs up the turtle she’s adopted and runs away from upstate New York to Brooklyn. The ghost (who Jayna believes to be her mother) promises to help her find a family, and Giff’s deft plotting leads the girl to find just that, in surprising and satisfying ways. The pacing falters occasionally—it takes Jayna a while to share information that she knows links her to the kindly bakery owner who takes her in—but Jayna’s yearning to belong and desperate longing for her brother’s safe return give this story its soulful core. Ages 9–12. Agent: George Nicholson, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Jan.)

Kirkus Reviews

Giff is one of few writers who can entwine an odd lot of characters, set them in Brooklyn during World War II, flavor the story with soup recipes, add a ghost and infuse the plot with a longing for family--and make it all believable. When Jayna's brother leaves for submarine duty, she's left to stay with their cranky landlady (their parents died in a car accident). She remembers an old, blue recipe book inscribed with a name and address in Brooklyn and becomes convinced the woman in a photo standing in front of a bakery named Gingersnap (her nickname) is her grandmother. With her pet box turtle, Theresa, in a cat carrier and the recipe book in her suitcase, she takes a bus into New York City and the subway to Brooklyn. Through a series of misfortunes, she finds the bakery and its owner, Elise. Is Elise her grandmother? Will Rob return from the war? Who is the ghost wearing Jayna's toenail polish with only her hands and feet visible, and can she connect with Rob? Will Theresa survive? Jayna's eight tasty soup recipes befit the circumstances as they unfold: Don't-Think-About-It Soup, Hope Soup, Waiting Soup and so forth. The author's note to readers refers to her own childhood war memories, lending dimension to the characters and plot. Unfortunately, the cover image of a girl with a suitcase walking by brownstone houses won't entice readers, though the story itself is riveting. While the outcome is foreseeable, Jayna's journey is a memorable one. (Historical fiction. 9-12)

Children's Literature - Jennifer Lehmann

Jayna's big brother Rob is all the family she has left. When he leaves to fight on a battleship in World War II, she must stay with their landlady, finicky Celine. Jayna finds an old recipe book written in French that may hold the key to their past and their family. Then, she gets a telegram that her brother is missing, and she travels to Brooklyn to find a bakery with an awning that bears her nickname, Gingersnap. She is accompanied by a ghost who has Jayna's same red hair but no memory of who she was before she died. In Brooklyn, Jayna finds a woman who she believes is her grandmother. In seeking the answers to her past and the parents she never knew, Jayna just may find the family she is seeking. While the ghostly presence occasionally feels like an unnecessary plot device, the character does add to the story's humor and feeling of mystery. The historical context is richly described, but the story is timeless and engaging enough to attract readers who do not normally enjoy historical fiction. Jayna's recipes for soup at the end of each chapter connect nicely to the story. They are simple enough for a young reader to attempt, but unspecific enough to require adult help. Several recipes would work well in a classroom situation, with each student providing something for the pot, as in Stone Soup. Reviewer: Jennifer Lehmann

School Library Journal

Gr 5–8—Jayna and her older brother have lived together in a rented house ever since Rob was legally old enough to take custody after their parents' death. Both are adept in the kitchen: the 11-year-old specializes in soup; Rob is now a Navy cook preparing to join a destroyer crew in the Pacific. He has arranged for Jayna to live with their landlady, Celine, while he is deployed. Jayna's narration is fresh, honest, and plausible as she describes how she is guided by a voice, perhaps a ghost, but certainly a helpful presence. When she and Celine are notified that Rob is missing in action, Jayna leaves upstate New York for the long trek to Brooklyn. There, armed only with an old inscribed cookbook with an address, encouragement from the ghost, and the company of a turtle named Theresa, she hopes to locate their grandmother. Though she doesn't find her, she connects with her own family history to discover that she has relatives, friends, and a future. Near the end of the war, Rob returns with a bit of help from the ghost suggested, perhaps a bit conveniently but satisfying nonetheless. Jayna's understanding of the complexity and kindness of others grows as she does, providing fuller characterizations. While the story is set during World War II, the separation of families and fear of loss in this novel is very contemporary. Jayna's soup recipes placed between chapters reflect her concerns and triumphs in this gratifying story of hope, faith, and family ties.—Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public Library