WE ARE ALL WELCOME HERE

Diana's mom, Paige, is paralyzed from having had polio and can't show her how to tie her shoes. She can only tell her. As the little family soldiers through the Civil Rights Movement of 1960s Mississippi, Diana learns more from her mother and their Negro caregiver than most children learn in more traditional homes. Berg's narration of her own work captures the sweetness and loss portrayed in this story. Without sounding maudlin, she conveys Diana's frustration at being both poor and a teenager. Berg also illuminates the dignity of Paige and her poverty-stricken friends, black and white. Berg's stunning Ebonic speech for the book's black characters puts the crowning touch on a polished performance. R.L.L. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 06/ JAN 07]