Description:
What a relief to find a software program for girls that inspires both educational and emotional development. Based on the scholastic book and television series of the same name, Dear America: Friend to Friend introduces role models for young women that teach history, social studies, and creative expression. Through diary pages, follow-up questions, and messages direct from each of six new friends, girls are encouraged in their own self-expression and introspection. The program begins with a personal feel: each player is required to log on with a name and password, suggesting secrets to share. Choosing which character to visit first is hard--each is well developed and true to both her time and environment. From Hattie Campbell (who endured the Oregon Trail in 1848) to Clotee (a conductor of the Underground Railroad), Dear America shares the experiences of both historical joys and hardships through the personalities of each character. The program's breadth of activities is its most appealing quality. Players can speak with every character--gaining both friendship and historical knowledge--and modify the direction of each story. Secret Self activities provide outlets for personal development and discovery through personality quizzes and other intellectual challenges. Additional features include musical selections from each time period, a private journal, and a search for historical collectibles. (Ages 8 to 12) --Madeleine J. Miller
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