Destiny, Rewritten
Utterly charming tale of Berkeley girl in search of father.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the truly delightful Destiny, Rewritten, the saga of a tween girl growing up in Berkeley, CA (a town in which half the population, she points out, has advanced degrees), is spot-on in its treatment of local culture. Some aspects of the story may be unnerving to parents elsewhere, as 11-year-old protagonist Emily and her friends chat with homeless people and spend the night at a vain protest to save ancient oak trees set to be cut down for a campus building project. And Emily and her friends, who are excellent students at the fictional Berkeley Middle School, cut class to go on a search for a missing book. Also, Emily is a huge fan of romance novelist Danielle Steel, whose books are a good deal steamier than this story indicates and probably unsuitable for some younger readers who might take an interest. With these minor caveats, Destiny, Rewritten is problem-free, and its characters, plot, and setting utterly charming.
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What's the Story?
Eleven-year-old Emily Elizabeth Davis has been told since birth that she's destined to be a great poet like her namesake, Emily Dickinson; a book of Dickinson's poetry has been a family treasure since before Emily was born. Emily, however, prefers romance novels, particularly the happy-ever-after endings. Whenever Emily asks her single mom, an English professor who also writes greeting-card verses, about her father, her mom evades the question, but finally admits she's written his name somewhere in the poetry book. Unfortunately, the book is mistakenly carried off by Goodwill just as Emily's about to learn the truth, so she and her friends, as well as her younger cousin Mortie, are soon searching all the used bookstores in Berkeley to get it back.
Is It Any Good?
DESTINY, REWRITTEN is notable for the fact that the kids are all smart and all the characters, including the wackier ones, are fundamentally kind. The novel is awash in the cultural assumption that the world is full of interesting things to learn about and it's great for kids to explore them. Emily's narrative voice is fresh and appealing, and her attempts to figure out adult reality will resonate with kids and adults alike. The affectionately accurate portrayal of Berkeley in all its poignant idiosyncrasy will warm the hearts of Bay Area readers and probably awaken a lot of kids elsewhere to alternative possibilities.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why stories about kids searching for unknown parents are so popular. How does this story compare with others you might have read with a similar theme?
How does Berkeley compare with your hometown? How is Emily's life different from yours, and how is it the same?
How does the concept of fate influence people's lives? Do you believe your destiny is already determined, or do you think you control what happens in your life?
Book Details
- Author: Kathryn Fitzmaurice
- Genre: Family Life
- Topics: Adventures, Friendship, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
- Publication date: February 19, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 9 - 12
- Number of pages: 352
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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