Dinah Forever

by Claudia Mills

Overview

Dinah Seabrooke is in seventh grade and distraught at learning that the sun will vaporize the earth in about 5 billion years. Nothing matters anymore-not class elections, the school play, even her relationship with Nick. Then Dinah suffers her first loss and discovers the reasons to live fully even though nothing lasts forever.

"Sensitively told and a pleasure to read."-Kirkus Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466852891
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	09/24/2013
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	144
File size:	177 KB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Claudia Mills is the acclaimed author of many books for children including the Franklin School Friends children's book series, including Cody Harmon, King of Pets and Simon Ellis, Spelling Bee Champ. She lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Editorial Reviews

Seventh grade looks promising for Dinah Seabrooke, star of Dynamite Dinah and Dinah for President, until she learns from her science teacher that the sun is going to burn out in a ``mere'' five billion years. Distraught that all human accomplishments will vaporize along with the earth, Dinah sees little use in trying to run for class president again, pursuing her environmental causes or making amends with her boyfriend Nick after they quarrel. Only after the loss of a dear friend, 83-year-old Mrs. Briscoe, does Dinah come to recognize the value of life. Demonstrating admirable insight as well as humor, Mills conveys the angst of a 12-year-old girl confronting mortality for the first time. The young protagonist's passion for drama and her competitive drive are as prominent here as in previous Dinah books. Not for a moment will readers will doubt that Dinah's woes will be short-lived; even as she wallows in self-pity, Dinah's irrepressible spirit shines brightly. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 5-8-Seventh grade promises to be a year ripe with possibilities for Dinah Seabrooke-she plans on running for class office; auditioning for the drama production of Carousel; and teaming up with her boyfriend, Nick Tribble, for debates. Her enthusiasm evaporates the first day of school, however, when her science teacher predicts that within five billion years the sun will die and life on Earth will end. What is the point of trying to leave one's mark, Dinah wonders, if there will be no one to remember it? It is elderly Mrs. Briscoe, a favorite confidante, who finally helps Dinah conquer her fears and see that life must be lived for small, daily joys; for the treasured memories of love; and for the simple wonder of being part of it all. This novel revisits an exceptionally well-defined character, introduced in Dynamite Dinah (1990) and further developed in Dinah for President (1992, both Macmillan). As in the previous books, Mills is particularly effective in her creation of complex relationships between characters. The frequent ups and downs of a first romance will be familiar to many readers, as will the genial rivalry between best friends. The evolving friendship shared by Dinah and Mrs. Briscoe provides some of the most satisfying passages in the book. This title will naturally appeal to those children familiar with the earlier stories, but should also attract new readers; all of them are likely to request that Dinah appear again-soon.-Sarabeth Kalajian, Venice Public Library, FL

School Library Journal

Middle-grade coming-of-age fiction is one of the best genres in books for young people. From Betsy Byars' Bingo Brown to Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Alice to Ilene Cooper's Kennedy Middle School kids, the contemporary characters reach beyond formula with laughter and sorrow. Mills' popular series about Dinah is focused on school, the social as well as the classes side. Now Dinah is starting seventh grade. She's a smart girl who loves to be the center of attention ("Dinah tried to sound modest, but it was difficult" ). She wants to win, even against her boyfriend, and sometimes she does, but she also fails. Ideas wrench her: whether they're poetry or science, they become part of her daily life. She wants to be famous and leave behind her footprints in the sands of time, but what's the use if the sun is going to burn out anyway in five billion years ("Why do "anything" if "everything" was going to come to "nothing"?" ). Then her beloved elderly friend dies, and Dinah's self-dramatizing existential angst is suddenly given poignant focus. Kids will enjoy the quarrels among friends and enemies, the romance, and the passionate ideas.

Hazel Rochman