Brooklyn Rose
by Ann Rinaldi
Published by Harcourt Paperbacks (May 2006,),currently only in hardcover
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Reviewed by Kaitlin RM Burkard
What causes two people to fall in love? In Ann Rinaldi's Brooklyn Rose, a young girl living at the dawn of the 20th century searches for the answer to this question.
Rose Frampton, though only fifteen years old, must marry a wealthy New Yorker and leave her family home in South Carolina to live with him in Brooklyn. She shares her thoughts about love, life, and growing up in a series of diary entries.
Based loosely on the lives of the author's grandparents, Brooklyn Rose offers readers a glimpse into the heart of a girl on her journey to womanhood. All of the characters are well rounded and presented in a believable manner. Brooklyn Rose could easily be mistaken for a real journal.
Brooklyn Rose is a straightforward and uncomplicated read. Honest and introspective, the only potential fault with the book lies in its length. It is short, and ends on a somewhat inconclusive note. But the story itself is rich enough to compensate for this minor weakness.
Armchair Interviews says: Ultimately, this book is the perfect gift for any girl on the path to maturity. What makes people fall in love? This reviewer recommends a curious reader pick up Brooklyn Rose and find out for herself.