In this reissue of a Newbery award winner, Marly's father has returned from World War II with what would now be diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder. The story is a little too tidy, dealing with the healing power the family experiences at the mother's old farm, but Marly is a complicated, interesting child, and her conflicted feelings about her father are honestly drawn.

Gr 3-5-Virginia Sorensen's 1957 Newbery Award winner (Harcourt, 1956) is skillfully dramatized by a cast of experienced narrators. This is a loving family saga about Marley, brother Joe, their parents, and their friends. When Marley's father returns home from World War II a broken man physically and spiritually, her mother decides that the family needs to leave the city for an extended visit to Grandma's house in the country. Listeners are drawn into the tale of a year in the life of this family as the father slowly regains his strength and confidence. The year is filled with small "miracles" from the first spring blossoms to the healing of their beloved neighbor, Mr. Chris. Narrated by Cynthia Bishop and dramatized by the Full Cast Family, each character is brought to life and given a unique personality and voice. Their expert narration brings this inspiring American classic to life. So many children today have parents who are part of the war effort overseas that this somewhat old-fashioned, half-century old story is still relevant for youngsters today.-Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.