Angela and the Broken Heart

Angela #3

by Nancy K. Robinson

When her big brother Nathaniel--a smart and funny person she has always admired--falls head over heels for a girl in his class who is not interested in him, Angela becomes concerned. By the author of Angela, Private Citizen. Reprint. C. H.

Genres: Childrens

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

During her career Nancy K. Robinson wrote more than 20 books for children between the ages of 7 and 12. She also wrote stories for children published by Scholastic Inc. She was a 1964 graduate of Vassar College.

Reviews

[Heidi]

So this has been floating around my house since I was a kid I think. I finally gave it a go. It's definitely dated... and a bit odd. I'm not sure what to rate it.

[Arya · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 stars for a kid book.

[A]

this book was SO cute. angela is just adorable.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six and a half year old Angela Steele, who is going into second grade, lives with her parents, older brother Nathaniel, who is going into tenth grade, and older sister Tina, who is thirteen, in an apartment in the city. Since starting at his new high school, Nathaniel--a smart and funny person she has always admired--has been acting like a different person because he is in love, and Angela tries to help. She wants him to meet her friend Mandy’s older sister, but Nathaniel has eyes only for the elusive Lola. Meanwhile, Angela has her own problems to deal with. Her classmate Eddie Bishop, whom she has promised to marry someday, doesn’t return to school this year, and the new kid Luther acts very mean towards Angela. What can she do about both her and Nathaniel’s difficulties?

The story has a sort of “cuteness” and some humor, but the overall plot seems rather disjointed, skipping back and forth between Nathaniel’s hormonal changes and Angela’s situation, and a certain suspension of belief is required to swallow a second grader’s wisdom to guide the love life of her teenage brother. Then there is the typical worldly picture of youngsters falling in love, dating, kissing, having a relationship, going steady, and breaking up. In one scene, Luther designs shoes with mirrors so that he can see up Angel’s dress while all the boys are making bets on the color of her underpants—and that day she is wearing an old pair of Nathaniel’s jockey shorts because her mother was behind in the laundry. Tina begins to take classes in ball room dancing which involve both boys and girls together.

There is no bad language, except that in a pretended telephone conversation Nathaniel, in response to a supposed refusal to go with him on a date, asks, “What if hell does freeze over?” And Luther gives Angela a whole bunch of Valentine’s Day cards that many people would consider quite cruel and insulting, but her friend Cheryl tells her that it’s just because he really likes Angela. Nothing actually vile, but still not exactly the kind of wholesome reading that I would have preferred for my kids. Also, in the beginning, Nathaniel delivers a “sermon” at summer camp with a “Bible story” about Noah and the ark which is all mixed up, but only Mrs. Steele seems to notice his fabrications. Apparently Angela’s first grade year is chronicled in Angela, Private Citizen, and readers are told that if they enjoyed this book about Angela, Tina, and Nathaniel, they might also enjoy Mom, You’re Fired!, and Oh Honestly, Angela! Thank you, but I think I’ll pass. Parents who want to raise godly children can probably find better reading than this.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason I just love this book. I first read it when I was Nathaniel's age and about to start high school myself, with many of the same fears and worries. It spoke to me then, and Angela's such a tender heart herself that the coincidental denouement is charming instead of forced. A lovely, quick read.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreams do come true! I had no idea there was a fourth book about Angela!