Raspberry Magic

Gr 5—8—Eleven-year-old Monica Shah (effectively portrayed by Lily Javaherpour) lives in a modest California home with her parents and younger, rather precocious sister. Her parents have been arguing over money, and both adults fall apart after her father loses his job and her mother's book deal falls through. It's Monica who acts like the grown-up in the family trying to cope with her parents' behavior and continue to do well in school. When Monica's science project—stimulating the growth of raspberry bushes with touch—is sabotaged by an overly competitive classmate, a determined Monica starts it again in the safety of a rich forest near her home. As her family problems grow, the raspberry project becomes increasingly important to her. She becomes convinced that if her raspberries thrive, her family will reconcile. This affecting film reveals a quiet story of family, friendship, and growing up. The resolution is dramatic and touching, though a bit contrived. This fine film could be used to generate discussions about ethics, diversity (Monica's family is Indian), competition, and family dynamics.—Maria Salvadore, formerly Washington DC Public Library