Overview
For Scottie, Amanda, Bella, and Tay, life in Chicago is all about seeking shelter. They've found it in the raggedy comfort of KnitWit, in their firelit stitch 'n bitch at Joe's, in the halls of their quirky private school, even in the arms of boyfriends.
But now the girls are staring down the end of high school. Fueled by the stresses of college applications and service projects, will it also mean the end of the Chicks? Or can this unlikely foursome bind off the happy ending that only true friendship can craft?
The Chicks return, along with four hip new projects.
Editorials
Children's Literature
The chicks are back with their sticks to knit up a third book. The four friends are now seniors in high school. While Scottie puts off doing her college applications (she cannot bear to see her comfortable life change), Amanda faces the perils of high society as a debutante. Tay faces the challenges of joint custody (her father has moved to another town making the situation that much more disagreeable), as Bella, the new-age chick, goes to work for the man. Though these girls are self-proclaimed nerds with needles, their trendy talk (sometimes a little too trendy) makes them seem pretty hip. The author’s obvious love of knitting is apparent in her lavish descriptions of yarn, yarn shops, and knitted creations. Readers who love to knit will enjoy the four knitting patterns provided in the back of the book. Though the ending is no surprise (very sentimental and happy), girls who enjoy reading feel-good friendship series books will probably be satisfied with this one. Reviewer: Caroline B. HopenwasserSchool Library Journal
Gr 7-10 -Fans of the previous books will enjoy this final installment in the trilogy. Like its predecessors, KnitWise lingers over detailed descriptions of clothes, elaborate coffee drinks, and yarn while following the lives of four friends-Scottie, Tay, Amanda, and Bella-who are from different social spheres. Unfortunately, this book does not have the sweetness of the earlier works. The plot, such as it is, centers on Scottie's disappointment that high school is about to end now that everything is going so well for her. She stalls while her classmates make plans for college. A petulant Amanda goes through the debutante process while rolling her eyes at it. Conflict also plays in when "the chicks," all of whom are stereotypes, are threatened by an annoying group of high school quilters who call themselves the "babes with batting." More successful story lines include Scottie's recognizing her self-centeredness and volunteering for a Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, and Tay's learning to get along with her divorced mother. The book assumes some knowledge of knitting. Four knitting projects that were part of the story are included.
—Amelia JenkinsCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.