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Rating: 
Summary: A Scandinavian-American story
Review: "Kirsten and the New Girl" is part of the "American Girls Short Stories" series of books for younger readers. This volume, which is written by Janet Shaw and illustrated by Renee Graf, focuses on Kirsten, a ten-year-old girl whose family had emigrated from Sweden to Minnesota about a year before this story takes place. In this book, Kirsten becomes jealous of Nora, a new girl at school; Nora's family is from Norway."Kirsten and the New Girl" ultimately teaches some worthwhile lessons as Kirsten comes to know more about Nora. The story includes a number of supplemental features, such as a "Meet the Author" page. A supplement entitled "A Peek into the Past" takes a look at girls' friendships in 1854, the time frame of Kirsten's story. This supplement includes reproductions of homemade dolls, historic photographs, and other items from that time. The book ends with an instructional article on how to make a friendship pillow. Overall, an enjoyable and educational book which, at about 50 pages, will be ideal for readers at a certain skill level.
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Summary: Cool Book!
Review: It is easy reading for little kids and it is a little book...perfect size for little children! My little girl loves it!
Rating: 
Summary: Weak Book
Review: This book does not maintain the strength of character that we have come to expect from each of the american girls characters. It depicts Kirsten as being petty and mean. Although the moral of the story is a good one to learn, I think the way it was carried out was not as strong as Ms. Shaw's previous Kirsten endeavours.
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Summary: An excellent story, a lesson, and a project
Review: This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Kirsten Larson, a nine-year-old girl from Sweden, whose family has moved to frontier Minnesota. In this episode, Kirsten recovers from the measles, and can't wait to return to school and her friends. Disaster strikes when Kirsten finds out that there is a new girl in school, Nora, whose family has just arrived from Norway. Bitterly jealous of Nora, feeling displaced, Kirsten learns a new lesson in friendship. Besides the charming short story, this book a chapter on friendship in 1854, and the kind of gifts that young girls would give each other. Then, there are instructions on how to make a "friendship pillow", reminiscent of those gifts from so long ago. The illustrations by Renee Graef are wonderfully done, and relatively plentiful, they add greatly to the story. This is a great book, and a worthwhile addition to you library (my nine-year-old daughter loves this book).
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