tween/middlegrade fiction; moving to a new place/making friends/summer on a lake in New Hampshire/learning about photography and a bit about ecology. This was good, but didn't stand out as a Newbery winner. I wish someone had told the kids not to feed the chipmunks anymore (Nate's dad is a science teacher, and I feel he should've known better). ( )

Lucy moves around a lot because her father is a famous photographer and he’s always looking for the next assignment. It's the start of summer, and her family has ended up on a lake in New Hampshire. Right before her dad leaves for his latest shoot, Lucy finds out about a photography contest for kids, but her dad is the judge. She knows she shouldn’t enter, but she wants to prove that she can take pictures too. Lucy knows it's hard to make friends, but things look promising when she meets Nate on the dock while she's taking pictures. It turns out Nate is only visiting the lake, like he does every year. When school starts he'll be going back to New Jersey. Still, Lucy and Nate become fast friends. He decides to help her find the perfect picture for each category of the photo contest. They're also recording their observations of the loons on the lake during what they call "loon patrol. Nate's grandmother, Grandma Lilah, loves finding out what's happening with them. At first Lucy was frightened by the call of the loons, but the more she learns about them the more fascinated she becomes. This is a very rough time for Nate, as his grandmother has the beginnings of dementia, so this will probably be her last season on the lake. One day Lucy snaps the perfect picture of Grandma Lilah, which Nate tells her she can't use in the contest. Should she submit it anyway? What will happen when her father finds out? What will the loon teach her? Pick up this book so you don’t miss the fun at the lake!

I read Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord because I've read other books by her and really enjoyed them. I met Ms. Lord this past November at the UCONN Children's Book Fair and I couldn't wait to read her latest book. I was not disappointed. I've spent time in New Hampshire and I think she captured the setting perfectly. I liked Lucy. I could relate to her concern about Grandma Lilah and her uncertainty with the developing friendship with Nate. I've always found photography interesting, so I loved learning more about that too. I knew a little about loons before reading this book, but now I know much more and think I'd have fun going on "loon patrol." The title ties into the theme of the story because having half a chance is better than having no chance at all. I recommend this book to kids in fourth grade and up who like realistic fiction and stories about friendship. Kids who have known someone with dementia will understand how Nate feels and the struggles his family deals with. This is a great book any time of year, but it's perfect for summer! ( )

Cynthia lord has a wonderful way of capturing the emotions of her characters and helping the reader to empathize with them. I loved this book. ( )

This is a heartwarming story. Lucy is a bit lonely because her family moves a lot and her dad travels for work. He is a famous photographer and Lucy tries to take photos that compare. She finds an ad for a photo scavenger hunt that her father is judging and decides to take photos to fit the categories, just for fun. She makes friends with Nate, whose family is staying at the house next door for the summer. Nate helps her with the photos and Lucy helps him keep an eye on the loons that nest on the lake. The photo scavenger hunt was a fun part of this story. Lucy and Nate come up with some clever photos to fit the different categories. The loons provide an environmental side to the story and a bit of sadness. Nate and Lucy take pictures and notes for the Loon Preservation Committee. Nate's grandmother is dealing with some health issues, and this is a difficult thing for Nate to understand. This may be her last summer at the lake. "At some point, you just have to choose. And then be brave enough to stand up to the people who think you made the wrong choice." - Chapter 18

What I really liked about this children's book is its lack of angst, magic, or bullying, which tend to be thematic in today's children's literature. I believe sometimes children just need to read a in order to experience the story of life. Half a Chance is a simple sweet story about a little girl who has moved around the country with her family quite often; her father has wanderlust and is a famous photographer. She is ready to settle down and just live her life in one spot. When she and her parents move to a little town in New Hampshire, they take up residence at a house on a lake. She meets the boy next door and his family, and she becomes enchanted by the loons on the lake. She enters a photography contest, and the book revolves around her taking photographs, but also forming friendships. It's a true to life story, told beautifully. As a child this is the sort of book I would have gravitated toward. I would highly recommend it to anyone with children 4th grade and up. ( )