When Life Gives You O.J.

April 29, 2013
With summer upon her, 10-year-old Zelly finds herself alone and in need of something to do. Her grandfather Ace takes it upon himself to give her a goal to work toward: proving to her parents that she’s responsible enough to take care of a dog. The only problem is that his plan involves Zelly carrying around an orange juice jug and treating it like a dog. With a voice that sounds youthful, Abigail Revasch deftly captures Zelly’s positive but occasionally melodramatic character. The narrator also creates unique voices for a host of characters—from bullies and younger brothers to condescending parents and quirky grandfathers—shifting among them with an ease that fully immerses the listener in the narrative. Ages 8–12. A Yearling paperback.

May 2, 2011
In this warm novel about family, friendship, and fitting in, 10-year-old Zelly and her family move from Brooklyn to Vermont to live with her recently widowed grandfather, Ace. An eccentric and vociferous retired judge who spouts Yiddish sayings and outlandish fish tales, Ace devises a plan for Zelly to prove to her parents that she's responsible enough to get a dog. He gives her a "practice dog"âan orange juice jug "named" O.J.âthat she must care for as she would a real dog. After Zelly's insightful new friend Jeremy (the only other Jewish peer she's met) advises her to start a dog-walking business, she drags her ersatz pet along. Perl (Vintage Veronica) offers a refreshing take on the grandparent-grandchild rapport. Ace's bossiness and brashness irk Zelly (he may have this effect on readers, too, as his speech is unfortunately rendered in all caps for most of the novel), yet there is a poignant undercurrent of love between them, as well as shared grieving for Zelly's grandmother. The novel strikes an admirable balance of humor and pathosâat times in the same scene. Ages 8â12.