It's Hot and Cold in Miami (review)

Fifth-grader Rachel struggles to retain her self-confidence and keep her cool while trying to live up to accomplishments of her perfect twin, Rebecca, and the demands of her harshly critical parents. The hot and cold of the title reflects the literal experience of living in mid-1960s Miami and constantly adjusting from extreme heat to aggressively air-conditioned interior environments (like the temple where the girls attend Hebrew school), but it also refers to Rachel's relationships. Rachel's gorgeous and gregarious mother can turn on her children, especially Rachel, in an instant and sometimes stays in bed for entire days, and the twins, struggling to get attention from their distant father and unpredictable mother, have frequent spats that often flare into all-out sibling wars. Luckily, Rachel has her developing artistic talent, a few patient and wise adults around her who act as guides, and a sarcastic wit that helps her distance herself from some of the more difficult aspects of her life, including the prevalent anti-Semitism in her neighborhood. Rachel's quirky, individual voice is authentic as well as very funny, but it's also believable in its reflection of her anxiety and anger. Though Blondie, the family's wisdom-spouting black maid, is somewhat of a cliché, her relationship with Rachel is warm and realistic, and it's a good contrast to the interactions between Rachel and her parents. Page borders and thickly interspersed line drawings in Rubel's familiar, detailed style add visual appeal and introduce elements not explicit in the text. With her blend of candor and eccentricity, Rachel will be a popular heroine, and readers will appreciate this lively protagonist whose solutions to various problems are not always smart but are always creative.