Salted lemons

by Doris Buchanan Smith

Ten-year-old Darby Bannister has difficulty adjusting to a new environment when she moves with her family from Washington, D.C., to Atlanta in the middle of World War II.

233 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Doris Buchanan Smith (June 1, 1934 – August 8, 2002) was an American author of award-winning children's novels, including A Taste of Blackberries (1973).

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have a memory of falling in love with! I read it in the 4th or 5th grade and it was probably the first time a book really pulled me into the story and I'd never related to a story line like I did this one before. It seemed silly to add as one of my books when I'm almost 30, but I LOVED this book! I'd love to read it again, but I'm almost afraid it won't live up to my expectations.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I distinctly recall taking this book out of my elementary school library over 20 years ago. On the cover were two little girls sitting on a tree branch or front steps eating lemons. I don't remember a thing about this book except that it was amazing, I've constantly thought of it over the years, and I despaired that I would never remember who wrote it. So glad I figured it out. Now I just need to hunt it down and re-read it.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a child and don't remember anything about it, other than I loved it. I need to find it and read it again.

ETA: I found a copy through www.betterworld.com and read it in a couple days. I remember why I loved the story - lots of do-goodism in the "understanding others" category, a quirky protagonist, a homemade roller coaster, and WWII homefront life. Plus, as a kid I loved eating lemons.

[Amy Waldfogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in elementary school, loved it, and have thought of it often. I mentioned it to a friend who was looking for something for his kid to read related to ww2 and then he found a copy for me! Still a lovely read and I can definitely understand why the younger me liked it so much. Darby is very relatable for this anxious girl who still usually doesn't understand all of the things that "everybody knows"

[Katie Donahoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dont remember everything about this book, I just remember that i read it when i was like 12...that it was set in ww2 era about two friends one of which who had just moved to the dc area...also remember really loving the book

[Gina Sgro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book growing up. It made such an impression on me at an early age that I found it on eBay a few years ago and bought it.

[Randy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darby Bannister is believable and likeable, but I had some difficulty relating to her. The challenges of moving to a new home, and pressing through conflict and self-doubt.

The book is partly autobiographical. My mother's family moved from Washington, D.C. to Atlanta, Georgia during WWII when Mom was 9. Darby misses her dog that ran away just before they moved. Our family lost a Sheltie named China.

There is a nice passage describing the way my family picked our Christmas tree, and we decorated it under mom's direction. She was a master in the art of stringing lights and hanging tinsel.