Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, Morgan Hill, CA However, in libraries where Newbery books are always in demand, this audio-book will help make an older book a little more accessible to young readers. There is also some ethnic stereotyping, typical of the time, that is unacceptable today. The obligatory tragedies (the death of Trinket, the unexplained murder of a woman Lucinda befriends) seem a little maudlin.

Certain expressions and references are likely to elude most children (and even many adults). Forbes does a good job with the reading, conveying Lucinda’s enthusiasm but not becoming overly dramatic. She reads Shakespeare with her uncle, puts on her own production of The Tempest, creates a magical Christmas for a little girl from an impoverished family, helps a family protect their fruit stand from attacks by rowdy boys, and has picnics in a vacant lot, among other adventures.

Lucinda, enjoying her freedom, explores the city on roller skates and makes friends wherever she goes. The story takes place in New York City in the 1890s, during the year of 10-year-old Lucinda’s “orphanage.” That’s Lucinda’s term for her situation when her parents go to Italy and leave her in the care of Miss Peters and Miss Nettie.

1986) is read by television and stage actress Kate Forbes. Review from School Library Journal: Grades 4-7–This recording of the 1937 Newbery Award-winning book by Ruth Sawyer (Penguin Putnam, pap. New York, NY: Viking a division of Penguin Group USA Inc.

Roller Skates by Ruth Sawyer