Written by: Aiden Man Nhuchhe Pradhan - 32028, Grade V
Posted on: 08 July, 2024
Author
Judy Blame
Setting
The story takes place in several locations: Sheila's house, where she plays hide-and-seek; Tarrytown, where Sheila lives for a couple of months; the swimming pool, where she takes swimming lessons; and Mouse's house, where the girls sneak out to play games and more.
Characters
Sheila: She is a little spoiled, thinks she knows everything, always thinks badly of others but doesn’t tell them, doesn’t admit her weaknesses, and is selfish.
Jennifer: She is a little evil to Sheila and also a bit naughty.
Mumford: He is also a little naughty like Jennifer, but not evil to anyone.
Libby: She remains a good little sister and doesn’t show tantrums, even with Sheila as her older sister.
Sheila's Mother and Father: They are good and responsible parents who take care of the family and some of the people in Tarrytown.
Mouse and Sheila's Friends: They are responsible friends who take care of Sheila and each other.
Marty: He is a good swimming coach, even though he is in college.
Plot
There was a girl named Sheila who was studying in grade 4. Her summer holiday had just started, and she had just arrived at the building where her apartment was. She tried to use the elevator where Henry was, but unfortunately, a person named Peter was also coming. Sheila didn’t have a problem with Peter, but she did have a problem with Peter's dog, Jennifer. Sheila and Jennifer were common enemies. Sheila tried to make some excuses to not let Jennifer in, but due to Henry's common knowledge about the elevator, Jennifer still got in. So, Sheila decided to take the stairs, even though Henry warned her that it would be a long walk (ten flights up). Sheila didn’t care and still went up. By the time she reached her apartment, she was panting hard.
For the summer holiday, the Tubman family was going to Tarrytown. In Tarrytown, they got a temporary house because the owners (the Egrans) were going to England. In Tarrytown, Sheila did many things like having a sleepover, going on a hay ride, making friends, learning some yo-yo tricks, hearing creepy stories, playing hide-and-seek, getting a temporary pet dog who became a mother, playing with pots at camp, becoming a temporary news reporter, learning how to swim, and finally earning the title: Sheila the Great. When the adventures were over and summer vacation was finished, they had to leave Tarrytown. They arranged a goodbye ceremony which was lots of fun.
Recommendation
I do not recommend this book because children might learn to sneak out of their homes, and they might pick up Sheila's bad habits, which could cause problems for their parents.
