Book Review: P.S. Longer Letter Later

P.S. Longer Letter Later, A Novel in Letters is written by award winning authors Paula Danziger and Ann M. Martin. Ms. Danziger is well known for her children's books, including the Amber Brown Series. (Sadly, Ms. Danziger passed away on July 8, 2004.) Ms. Martin is well known for her Babysitter Club Books. I liked the different approach the authors took, by telling the story through letters written by the characters.

This novel has two main characters, who are totally different. Tara*Starr loves being the center of attention, is the only child of young parents and wears glitter and sequins. Elizabeth is quiet and shy, hates being the center of attention, enjoys writing poetry and lives in a house where possessions are more important than feelings. These two are best friends.

Tara*Starr and her family move away and the girls keep their friendship by writing letters. This story is written as a year-long correspondence between the two girls. During this year apart, the girls endure personal change and challenges. Tara*Starr's family settles down, while Elizabeth's family falls apart. Their letters to each other chronicle these events in their lives and test the strength of their long-distance, letter-based friendship. Through these letters, Tara* Starr and Elizabeth realize that they can depend on each other and on themselves, despite the distance between them.

Tara*Starr supports Elizabeth when Elizabeth's father loses his job, her mother who had never had a paying job gets a job to support the family, and eventually when her father leaves the family. Elizabeth encourages Tara*Starr to try out for the play at her new school, meet new friends and to be excited about the baby her mother is expecting.

At the end of the novel, and after nearly a year of letters, the girls are finally able to plan a face-to-face reunion when Elizabeth arranges a summer trip to visit Tara*Starr.

The authors, Ann M. Martin and Paula Danziger, who are real-life friends, wrote the novel letter by letter, as the characters would experience it. (Paula is the voice of Tara*Starr and Ann is the voice of Elizabeth). I thought this approach gave the book an authenticity that young readers could relate to and understand.

There is a sequel to P.S. Longer Letter Later, entitled Snail Mail No More, which came out in 2000. It continues the friendship of Tara*Starr and Elizabeth through e-mail.

I would recommend this book to any child over 10 years old. This is a great book that I think all members of a family can read and relate to.

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