Ivy Takes Care

by Rosemary Wells Narrated by Emily Beresford

Overview

After her best friend, Annie, leaves for a fancy camp in New Hampshire, Ivy can't imagine how she's going to endure the long, hot Nevada summer with no one around but that pain-in-the-neck Billy Joe Butterworth next door and all those melancholy visitors to the Red Star Guest Ranch. Happily, an answer comes to Ivy in a flash of honey-colored topaz, and she cleverly hires herself out to take care of people's farm animals or pets while they're away.

So begins a summer of discovery for tenderhearted but sensible Ivy, who must win over the stubborn pony Chestnut, take on the challenge of training a puppy named Inca, and patiently court the trust of the magnificent but scarred racehorse Andromeda. All this while tending to her own private hurts and hopes and managing the hapless tagalong Billy Joe, who has a knack for trouble and accidents like nobody else!

Celebrated writer Rosemary Wells delivers a compassionately observed and exquisitely distilled novel set in the midcentury Southwest about a young heroine with an exceptional gift, a heart of gold, and a budding dream for her future.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Wells’s quiet period piece is set in 1949 on a ranch near Reno, Nev., where almost-sixth-grader Ivy’s parents work. Ivy’s deep compassion for animals spurs her to offer herself as caretaker for pets and farm animals while their owners are away; her experiences inspire her aspirations to become a veterinarian. Effectively structured in three sections, each focusing on Ivy’s relationship with a different animal, the story proceeds chronologically and developmentally as Ivy faces crises with her charges—often caused by “nothing but trouble” Billy Joe, her careless companion and the ranch owners’ son—and grapples with middle-grade friendship problems. Secondary characters perform reliably: Dr. Rinaldi, the local vet, is always on hand for emergencies and career advice; Ivy’s hardworking parents stand by her; and the strangers who hire her are kind and sympathetic. Animal lovers will feast on the details Wells (Following Grandfather) includes and envy Ivy’s opportunities to lavish her care on dogs, horses, and even a new litter of fox kits; all will be quickly won over by her good nature, determination, confidence and loyalty. Art not seen by PW. Ages 8–11. (Feb.)

From the Publisher

Animal lovers will feast on the details Wells (Following Grandfather) includes and envy Ivy’s opportunities to lavish her care on dogs, horses, and even a new litter of fox kits; all will be quickly won over by her good nature, determination, confidence and loyalty.
—Publishers Weekly

This will be popular with animal lovers, especially those who enjoyed Jessie Haas’ Beware the Mare series.
—Booklist

Ivy is...immensely likable and will inspire children who are interested in veterinary care...Give this one to animal lovers.
—School Library Journal

Wells’ narrative voice is as thoughtful and dependable as Ivy herself, and she capably evokes the historical and geographical settings, giving just enough detail to make the surroundings intriguing without distracting readers from the main threads of Ivy’s story. Animal-loving youngsters who dream of becoming vets will be in heaven here, and girls with their own friendship troubles may also relate to Ivy’s difficulties with Annie.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

The moving story, told from a third-person limited perspective, brings the characters to life for young readers.
—The Horn Book

In this warm-hearted novel, Wells offers a sympathetic but realistic portrait of human nature and a convincing message about the value of compassion and a job well-done.
—BookPage

Wells' fine sense of plot and characterization make this tale of Ivy's summer and the people and animals she works with a sheer delight.
—Yellow Brick Road

School Library Journal - Audio

Gr 3–6—Fifth grade has just ended for the summer. Ivy wants to surprise her clique-conscious friend Annie at her fancy New Hampshire summer camp with the latest fad—a birthstone friendship ring. How will just-getting-by Ivy come up with the 1949 sum of five dollars? Her "man of all work" dad suggests babysitting, but that's not for her because she gets lost in a book while toddlers want to play. Instead, Ivy's compassion and passion prompt her to launch an animal care service. She takes on a variety of stubborn, lovable, and sometimes unusual clients—some by accident. All the while she is trying to avoid big trouble caused by her pesky neighbor and reluctant helper Billy Joe. The patient local vet recognizes Ivy's "nerves of steel and heart of gold." He encourages her to consider vet school. With the friendship ring already purchased and sent to Annie, Ivy is now working to save for "The U." Emily Beresford's clear voice matches plucky Ivy, adding just enough consternation when dealing with the irksome Billy Joe. Her voice varies for each character, and its tone perfectly fits Wells's folksy prose (Candlewick, 2013). This novel will appeal to those who enjoy a pristine story with just enough suspense to keep listeners interested but not anxious.—Jane Newschwander, Fluvanna County Public Schools, VA

School Library Journal

Gr 3–6—Twelve-year-old Ivy Coleman's hardscrabble ranching family is just scraping by, while her friend Annie Evans's well-to-do parents can afford to send her to an expensive East Coast summer camp. Their differences never seemed that important before, but this year Ivy starts feeling inferior to Annie's camp friends. They part ways for the summer on bad terms, which inspires Ivy to buy Annie a conciliatory Tru-Friendship ring. To earn the money, she starts a pet-sitting business. Annie moves to the back of Ivy's mind as she focuses on interacting with her animal charges and her aspirations to become a veterinarian. While Ivy is unflappably responsible, her neighbor Billy Joe Butterworth often tags along and wreaks havoc at every job. Fortunately, the kindly local vet always sets things right. Ivy does, in fact, buy Annie the ring, yet they aren't able to reclaim the closeness they once had. But now Ivy has her business and the dream of becoming a vet, and she holds these things tight as Annie drifts away. Parts of the story are a touch didactic-they can read like a manual on how to care for animals. Ivy is perhaps too responsible to be believable, yet she is still immensely likable and will inspire children who are interested in veterinary care. There are quite a few highly suspenseful moments when animals are in peril, and these instances keep the pages turning. Give this one to animal lovers.—Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY

MAY 2013 - AudioFile

Narrator Emily Beresford vividly portrays Ivy and her life on a Nevada dude ranch in 1949. With Ivy’s closest friend leaving for an exclusive camp, Ivy faces summer on her own. Money is tight for her parents, who work on the ranch. So it looks like Ivy will spend the summer being plagued by the annoying and trouble-making Billy Joe. Beresford brings all the characters to life. Ivy sounds tight-voiced and monotone as she faces a summer without her best friend. Her parents are given voices that are loving but firm. And Billy Joe sounds alternately full of bravado and secretive. With the support of the local vet—whose tones are brusque yet friendly—Ivy finds jobs tending animals and begins to build the confidence to negotiate friendships and follow her dreams. As the drama of Ivy’s activities increases, Beresford picks up the pace and emphasizes Ivy’s determination, especially as she saves the life of a horse bitten by a rattlesnake. A.R.

Kirkus Reviews

Seemingly plucked from a middle-of–last-century bookshelf, this wholesome tale of a spunky fifth-grade girl's experiences in rural Nevada has a paint-by-numbers feel that keeps it from living up to the author's illustrious reputation. Readers meet Ivy as she bikes up a hill to visit her friend Annie, stopping along the way to rescue a turtle that's been run over. While Annie and Ivy's relationship plays a role in the plot, Ivy's love of animals and dreams for the future quickly become the focus. Looking for a way to earn some money, Ivy decides to offer her services as an animal sitter. While life was likely simpler in 1949, at least in some ways, the ease with which Ivy finds jobs and the local vet's trust in her abilities (he allows her to give a wild fox an injection) will both seem a mite unlikely to contemporary readers. A pesky neighbor boy creates some unexpected problems, but overall, it's smooth sailing with an especially happy ending (no dead dogs here). Although the tone is spot-on, with endearingly folksy dialogue and an innocent worldview, the contrived plot and limited character development will likely keep readers from caring much about Ivy. Disappointingly bland fare, this might please enthusiastic animal lovers or parents who prefer squeaky-clean stories but will leave most other readers wishing for more. (Historical fiction. 8-10)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169554274
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Publication date:	02/12/2013
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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