We the Children
Children's Literature – Shirley Nelson
This first book in the "Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School" series introduces the reader to middle-schoolers Ben and Jill. In just a few weeks, their school will be destroyed and replaced by a historical amusement park. As Ben hurries to homeroom one day, he sees the school janitor struggling to get to his workroom. Gasping, Mr. Keane asks Ben to call 911. He then entrusts Ben with an antique gold coin and a secret. The coin has been passed to janitors with a warning and a promise to protect the school. Mr. Keane does not trust his assistant and passes the coin to Ben. When Mr. Keane dies, Ben shares the story with Jill and together they begin to research the history of the school to find a way to stop the amusement park from being built. Ben is a typical pre-teen dealing with his parents' separation, a bully, and the beginnings of an adolescent crush. The cliff-hanger ending will have young readers anxiously awaiting the next installment. The striking black, white, and blue illustrations enhance the action. Reviewer: Shirley Nelson