Constance M. Foland

Foland, Constance. Flying High Pogo. Middleton, WI. Pleasant Company Publications, 2002

Flying High Pogo by Constance Foland was written for grades 4-6. It is about a fifth grade girl named Pogo who was selected to attend a summer gymnastics class. Unfortunately, Pogo’s parents cannot afford the tuition. Pogo comes up with several strategies to make money. Eventually Pogo sees how gymnastics camp is not as important as being with and helping her family, including her half sister. The story is realistic insofar as it depicts the struggles of a young girl dealing with financial lack, parental divorce, and the ups and downs of mother-daughter/father-daughter relationships. Pogo records all of her experiences in diary entries that reveal her inner feelings, affections, hopes, dreams, and disappointments. Children will appreciate how the whole book is like reading a young girl’s diary. This gives the book a realistic touch and makes it more interesting.… (mehr)