Just read the title again, will you? Ok, enough said - great book! Alright, don't worry, I'll give you the appetizer. The bones of the story take place in modern day New York city and is all about a young girl named Cornelia who is desperately lonely. Cornelia is an introvert with a lot to say and the vocabulary to say it with. Young meets old as an extraordinary neighbor, Victoria, moves in across the hall. Victoria is full of audacious stories about her 3 sisters and their travels all over the world. The pure joy of reading about the relationship between these two characters is enough to keep you reading on and on, but what is even more delightful is the growth that both of these characters experience as the book comes to a bitter sweet end. Your daughters will enjoy it, your sons will snub their noses at it. Although it is a darling of a book, it can be a tiny bit slow sometimes, but it is worth it to see the outcome of the effects these sweet stories have on both main characters. Friendship across generations, kindness and encouragement fit the bill as character traits in this book. Grades 3rd-6th, 4 stars.
