True Confessions of Hannah Faith

All-of-A-Kind Family Uptown – Sydney Taylor

Posted on January 31st, 2007 by hanfaith.
Categories: Book Reviews, General.

I can honestly say I grew up with this series. I’ve checked it out of the library more times than I can remember, and they are comforting books to go back to when I want something light. All-of-A-Kind Family Uptown continues on the story, with the girls growing older, finding love, and getting into their usual mischief.

Taylor’s books were my introduction to Jewish culture from a very young age, and I always enjoyed the chapters focused on the different feasts, eager to learn more about the traditions.

In All-of-A-Kind Family Uptown we find Ella’s steady boyfriend taking part in World War I and Henny “borrowing” Ella’s party dress and staining it with tea. While Uptown lacks the laugh-out-loud moments of some of the previous books, it delves deeper into the richness life has to offer, both joys and sorrows. Ella and her friend Grace mature as their boyfriends are at war. We share in their joy - especially Grace’s as Bill, who was missing in action, returns after the war is over. Ella takes over the house, and all the younger girls contribute as their Mother becomes sick and spends weeks in the hospital. The family pulls through, strong in their bond together.

These books made me long for a large family – and the special relationship that all the sisters shared. Even though they had their differences, the girls stuck together and loved each other (and their little brother, Charlie) fiercely. An excellent series for all young and young-at-heart girls.

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