Noni Speaks Up - Hardcover

Heather Hartt-Sussman, born in Montreal, graduated from Brandeis University and attended the Sorbonne. She has been a copywriter for BCP in Montreal, a reporter for the Hollywood Reporter, editor-in-chief for international news for TV Guide in French Canada, where she was columnist of the popular "Heather Hartt in Hollywood" and host of E! Entertainment Television's The Gossip Show. She is author of the acclaimed picture books Nana's Getting Married, Here Comes Hortense! and Nana's Summer Surprise. Her first two books about Noni, Noni Says No and Noni Is Nervous, were both finalists for Ontario's Blue Spruce Award. Heather Hartt-Sussman lives in Toronto. Visit her website at www.heatherhartt.com. The author lives in Toronto, Ontario.

K-Gr 2-Noni tries to display proper manners at all times; she gives up her seat to the elderly, holds open the door for an expecting mother, and assists a gentleman when his loose change hits the floor. Her well-intentioned actions stop short, however, when she struggles to defend a bullied child at school. Noni reflects on how growing up has caused her to lose her way, as she now values others' opinions more than her own. The narrative sways slightly off track in its earnest message when the girl finally addresses the bullying directly: "Finito! Kaput! She is done with standing by and doing nothing. D-O-N-E. DONE!" The child-centric story line displays Noni's feelings with realism: "But Noni is so afraid of making enemies that she just stands there. Speechless." Digital illustrations depict the protagonist growing in confidence, with bright red circles on her rosy cheeks against her otherwise pale complexion. Shifting perspective conveys the bully's diminishing power; the taunting child's jeering mouth initially expresses defiance but is starkly contrasted when the bully shrinks in size after Noni asserts herself. This title effectively captures a child's internal struggle as she takes responsibility for her actions, making this one of the stronger selections available to tackle bullying behavior for a young audience. VERDICT A strong selection for one-on-one reading or for starting a classroom discussion.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NCα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.