Zettie and her widowed mom are immigrants from Jamaica; because Mama doesn't have a steady job, they must live in their car, inspiring taunts of Junk Car Zettie! from some school kids. It's unclear how Mama and Zettie would have a car in the first place, but readers will find eye-opening both Gunning's well-chosen details and Pedlar's brooding, expressionistic art.

This book tells the story of a mother and daughter who become homeless arriving in America from Jamaica after the death of the husband/father. The mother struggles to find a permanent job while they live in the family car. The story is appealing, told from the daughter's point of view while she wrestles with several issues including shame. The ending is formulaic. The illustrations are bold and colorful, adding meaning to the story, though they are uneven at times. If you need a book on homelessness, this title would lend itself to reading aloud. Additional Selection. Robin Henry, Librarian, Little Elm (Texas) Middle School

The opening of Gunning's (Under the Breadfruit Tree) suspenseful picture book sets the stage for the imperiled existence of a girl and her mother who live in their car. Newcomer Pedlar uses the color red, emanating from a police car's lights, to flood the spread with the urgency of sirens blaring, as the mother attempts to shield her child; the mother's wide-eyed expression conveys her fear and concern for the child. A palpable affection between mother and daughter infuses the text and provides reassurance to readers as the characters face challenge after challenge. In the mornings, they use the rest room in a park before Zettie sets off to school and her mother goes in search of a job; at night, the woman reads a library book to Zettie in the back of their car. The girl's classmates call her "Junk Car Zettie," and as she attempts to flee the bullies she becomes separated from her mother. The reunion between mother and child makes clear their gratitude for each other, and the promise of a new job and a place to live ends the book on a hopeful note. Pedlar's use of somber colors and generous white space effectively depicts the girl's sense of isolation and sadness, but the stylized characterizations take on a cartoonish quality with their clashing colors and exaggerated, often distorted facial features. Unfortunately, children may wind up viewing homeless people as alien or strange beings unlike themselves. Ages 6-up. (Feb.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

K-Gr 3-After her father died, eight-year-old Zettie and her mother left Jamaica in search of education and a better life in America. They now live in an old car. Zettie's daily routine includes waking up to blaring sirens and flashing lights, washing in cold water in a park rest room, being bullied by boys at school, and feeling hungry and resentful. Spending time with a friend who is also homeless, and a reassuring encounter with a concerned policeman bring comfort at crucial moments, but the girl's life is not an easy one. Not since Maurice Sendak's We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy (HarperCollins, 1993) has a picture book dealing with homelessness maintained such emotional intensity. The illustrations call to mind images by Georges Rouault. Pedlar's figures are defined with thick black lines; exaggerated features and the expressionistic use of color accentuate the family's suffering. In the end, Mama's successful day helping at a Health Fair and the promise of a job lead to a bed and shower in a motel-and hope. Children will be moved by Zettie's plight and relieved that there are options.-Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.