NEATE Book 2: Elizabeth'sWish

Written By Debbi Chocolate

Reading Level: Ages 9-12; Paperback: 104 Pages

REVIEWS

NEATE is a club of African American middle schoolers. In this second series entry, eighth grader Elizabeth is preparing to enter a citywide music competition. There are enough plot elements here to make several books. The contest gets top billing, but other members of NEATE create barely connected threads. A biracial girl deals with prejudice from whites and blacks while another of the adolescents is concerned about a Vietnamese refugee shelter facing closure. There is a father/son conflict, a rap v. heavy-metal debate, and more. There is not enough room in such a slim volume to develop so many stories in sufficient depth. On the positive side, the NEATE members do exhibit a degree of individuality beyond what might be expected of series' characters. The dialogue is natural, with lots of rap quotations, and while the plot resolutions are rather pat, they are emotionally satisfying. School Library Journal