As 11 year old Doris adjusts to having lost her best friend, she gets better acquainted with a classmate whom she has always regarded as annoying. A sequel to THE GIFT GIVER stands on its own as a story of friendship and loyalty. Hansen creates a strong city setting within a busy, thriving neighborhood. The characterization of both Doris and Yellow Bird is well done, and the author's use of Black English in both dialogue and narrative is skillful. (Ages 9-12)

In a sequel to THE GIFT-GIVER, Doris reluctantly starts helping Yellow Bird, the class clown, with his reading problem. To her surprise, Doris finds that in caring for and helping Bird, she develops a new friend.