Ida Lou's Story, Vol. 4 Book

A family, like a quilt, can be pieced together in many ways. And a quilt, like a family, is rich with stories. Lacey's great-grandmother has a trunkful of family quilts, and stories, she loves to share with Lacey. And the stories the old quilts tell help Lacey understand not only the generations that have come before her, but her own family as well.

Take Lacey's great-great-aunt Ida Lou, living with her brother, Vic, and their struggling single mother in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1918. Vic wants to join the fighting overseas, while Ida Lou dreams of becoming an aerialist like her heroes, The Flying Wards. She's sure that traveling with the circus will enable her to find her long-absent father. But even as a rich suitor for Ida Lou's mother promises a bright future for the family, a near-tragic accident threatens to put an end to Ida Lou's dreams.

Children's Literature

Fourth in a series called "American Quilts," this historical fiction was inspired by actual events around the turn of the century. Ida Lou's story will show young readers what the life of a young girl was like in the Midwest during the early 1900s. The inspiration for the book came from three real-life aerialists (Eddie and Jennie Ward and Mickey King) who performed internationally for several years. The book teaches several important values through Ida Lou's experiences. She learned patience as she adjusted to the difficult situation of moving homes and living with a new stepfather. She learned endurance because of an accident that kept her in bed for a year. And she showed determination as she kept her focus on the goal to become a circus aerialist. This uplifting book will be especially helpful to children who are interested in the circus or quilting or are dealing with a new stepparent. 2001, Aladdin Paperbacks, $4.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Nicole Peterson