Contemporary Realistic Fiction
What James Said. By Liz Rosenberg. Roaring Brook Press, New York, 2015. 32 pages. $12.67.

Gossip. A little girl stops talking to her friend because she thinks he is talking about her. At the beginning of the book the word of what James supposedly said went through the "grapevine." James does not understand why she is giving him the silent treatment. Throughout the story he tries to get her to talk to him through a variety of creative ways. She ignores his attempts. The little girl realizes what a long day it can be without her best friend. In the end she realizes that James was not talking about her, but gave her a complement about her art work which was originally misconstrued.
This is a terrific little story about how a misunderstanding can hurt friendships. What James Said would be a great story to use for teaching students about how to deal with gossip and hurt feelings. The illustrations, by Matthew Myers, can inspire kids by his use of a simple ballpoint pen and watercolor. Myers incorporates great emotion in his work. This is a story well worth putting on any library shelf.
This is a terrific little story about how a misunderstanding can hurt friendships. What James Said would be a great story to use for teaching students about how to deal with gossip and hurt feelings. The illustrations, by Matthew Myers, can inspire kids by his use of a simple ballpoint pen and watercolor. Myers incorporates great emotion in his work. This is a story well worth putting on any library shelf.