A Review of Gingersnap (Audiobook)

By Patricia Reilly Giff

* Note: This blog fulfills a course requirement at TWU.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Giff, Patricia Reilly. Gingersnap. Read by Olivia Campbell. New York: Listening Library (Audio) 2013. ISBN: 0385361319

PLOT SUMMARY

The year is 1944 and World War II is ongoing. Jayna is a young girl who lost her mom and dad in an automobile accident before she had any memories of them. Her mom had nicknamed her “Gingersnap” because of her unruly red hair. After living in a series of foster homes, her brother Rob came of age and took her into his home. Unfortunately, Rob is called to war and the next door neighbor, Selene, took in Jayna, and Rob sent her money from his military salary to help her with the costs. Shortly, Rob was reported missing in action and this devastated Jayna. She found a box Rob had told her about before he left and it had pictures of her parents and a recipe book with an address in Brooklyn. She was befriended by a ghost that I believe to be her conscience who helped her to decide to go to Brooklyn and hope that the person at the address would be family. She arrived at a bakery and the owner, Elise, seemed that she might be family. She was not, but was a friend of her mother and knew who she was. She invited her to stay with her in hopes that her brother would return one day. Selene came and visited to make sure that Gingersnap was okay. She discovered that Jayna was happy and returned home, but as soon as she returned, she got a message from Rob that he was returning and he was okay, All of the people that were in Jayna’s life (including the turtle and the lost and recovered recipe book) kept her hopes alive and they were rewarded with the beautiful ending!

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This was a beautifully written and narrated book! The narration was lovingly done by Olivia Campbell who painted a brilliant picture of the main character, Jayna. This is a book for anyone who has known hardship and persevered.  Giff highlighted the authenticity of this story against the backdrop of World War II, bringing up the high cost of victory at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Her characters were rich in depth and accentuated the lovely writing. This was my first audiobook and I highly recommend it to everyone! A beautiful story told by a master of storytelling!

REVIEW EXCERPTS

School Library Journal - “Giff's well-told story is narrated by Olivia Campbell who perfectly portrays Jayna. However, on occasion she drops the bakery owner's French accent. Fans of Giff's other World War II novels like Lily's Crossing, All the Way Home, and Willow Run, will be delighted with this story of family during wartime.”

Booklist – “Giff offers an accessible chapter book with highly individual characters and a convincing picture of life on the home front. Jayna often makes soup, and related recipes appear between chapters. Though parts of the story seem as improbable as daydreams, readers will be swept along by Jayna’s first-person narrative and moved by the novel’s ending.”

CONNECTIONS

I highly recommend other Patricia Reilly Giff books including:

·               Giff, Patricia Reilly. Water Street. 2008. ISBN: 9780440419211

• Giff, Patricia Reilly. Nory Ryan’s Song. 2002. ISBN: 9780440418290

Ø  ALA Best Book for Young Adults in 2003.

·             Giff, Patricia Reilly. Maggie’s Door. 2005. ISBN: 0440415810.

And many others…