  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 08/01/2017 Gr 4–7—Minna Treat is a well-grounded young lady, especially considering she's been twice orphaned: first when her mother died when Minna was two, then again after her grandparents were killed when she was five. Now Minna contentedly lives with her uncle Theo in Gilbreth, a town renowned for its craftsmen, and her biggest concern is her nonexistent entry for Gilbreth's prestigious junior artisan competition. When Minna finds a mysterious message in a bottle under Whistler Bridge, it provides a welcome distraction and begins a quest to find the father she has never known. Subsequent notes left under the bridge lead Minna on a trail discovering her family's contributions to the town's history. Aided by old friend Crash (an inept member of a glassblowing family) and new friend Grace, daughter of the town's mayor (who wants to develop Gilbreth), Minna attempts to solve the mystery of the messages and determine the identity of her father. But in her effort to unwind the puzzle of her heritage, she almost misses her larger family: the town's close-knit artisan community. In turn, Minna may save Gilbreth from the developers. Minna is a wry, amusing narrator, given to frequently quoting her uncle's many parenting books. She views herself as a well-adjusted child, but she has never come to terms with her mother's death, convinced there is no need to mourn someone she does not remember. In searching for family, Minna achieves far more than she anticipates. Beautifully written, with vivid characters, this exploration of family and friendship shines from the first page. VERDICT A fine purchase for middle grade collections. Give to fans of Holly Goldberg Sloan's Counting By 7s.—Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor School District, Lancaster, PA - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 09/15/2017 For three centuries, the village of Gilbreth has been home to generations of families practicing trades such as candlemaking, glassblowing, and weaving. Minna Treat, whose mother died years earlier, lives with loving, supportive Uncle Theo, a woodworker like their forebears. Locally, woodworkers are known for keeping secrets, and so the Treats do, withholding information from their neighbors, from each other, and even (in Minna’s role as narrator) from the reader. With crises looming over her village and household, 12-year-old Minna feels pressure to make an exceptional woodworking project for a competition. But even stronger is her sudden drive to identify her biological father. Meanwhile, who’s leaving cryptic messages in bottles for her to find? With chapter headings quoting episodes from a history of the village, the novel’s measured pace is not for every reader, but it suits the story well. Lawson lovingly creates an unusual community, peoples it with distinctive characters, and intertwines their stories into an involving narrative that answers certain pertinent questions while leaving others for readers to ponder. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
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