School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5Amelia, first introduced in Amelia's Notebook (Tricycle, 1995), is at it again when she receives a new notebook for her 10th birthday. The engaging youngster proceeds to fill the pages with a variety of stories, personal commentary, and drawings. From the very beginning, readers are warned, "Do not turn any more pages or you will be struck down by the Mummy's curse!" Be brave and read on; the curse is short lived. Bored with her math homework, Amelia visualizes the numbers with distinct personalities. Getting marshmallows to stick and stay on the ceiling without being caught by her mother is another of the recorded activities. And on pages bordered with yellow caution tape, she writes about the tragic fire at her school. Amid her sorrow and anger, she suggests that each student place a little treasure in the new cement as a memento of special school remembrances. A good luck story, postcards, and notes to a friend fill the journal with adventure, nostalgia, whimsical thoughts, and imagination. With each reading, new discoveries are made. Fans will laugh and cheer Amelia and anticipate more adventures to come.Patricia Mahoney Brown, Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, Kenmore, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
In a sequel to 'Amelia's Notebook' (Tricycle), the spunky title character records her thoughts about her older sister, a fire at school, and learning to trust a new friend. The text, handwritten on lined paper, is illustrated with Amelia's doodles and drawings, as well as representations of items Amelia has pasted into her notebook. A fun concept, effectively realized. From HORN BOOK 1996, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Amelia is back, as precocious as ever. Having filled one journal (Amelia's Notebook, 1995) with her fantasies, color drawings, and random observations, she's embarked on another. This 10-year-old's scribblings are haphazard: She wonders what the dip under her nose is for, pontificates about the shapes of hands, moans that she can't concentrate in math class. Underneath these ramblings is an author searching for a theme, and the fun of the book is in its unpredictable directions. Amelia is a year older, as is America, and must confront a terrorist act--a protester's burning of her school. Her innocent reaction sounds forced (``I can't figure out how burning down our school sends a message to the government. Couldn't he just send a letter?''), but her keen observations show the devastating effect of the arson on teachers and students. Though that particular section reflects some childlike wisdom, much of the notebook is corny. (Picture book. 7+)
Booklist Review
Gr. 3^-5. A sequel to Amelia's Notebook (1995), this purports to be another journal created by Amelia. Ten years old at last, Amelia finds that she has plenty to write about as she discusses the expressiveness of hands, the time she and her sister stuck marshmallows to the ceiling, her reactions to an arson fire at her school, and her discomfort when a friend wants to read her journal. Finally, she and the friend jointly write a story in the notebook. Naive ink-and-watercolor illustrations brighten the blue-lined, hand-printed pages. Many labels and side comments add to the fun. Children assigned journal writing in school sometimes see it as a chore. They may take heart from the freshness of Amelia's voice in this entertaining book. --Carolyn Phelan
