Pictures, 1918

Asia McKinna comes of age in a rural Texas town during World War I. She struggles to understand the frailty of her grandmother, the strain of the war, her intensifying feelings for her friend Nick Grissom, and the uneasiness caused by the mysterious fires plaguing her town. Through her growing passion for photography, she hopes eventually to gain perspective on the times--and on her place in the world.

From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-A novel set in rural Texas during World War I. The story begins with a suspicious barnyard fire that claims the life of Asia's beloved pet rabbit. In the days that follow, the teen's longtime friend, Nick Grissom, and his cousin Boy, who has just moved in with Nick's family, compete for her attention. Asia senses that there is something dangerous about Boy, and soon realizes that her feelings for Nick run deep. Meanwhile, she sees a Kodak Autographic camera in the drugstore window, earns the money to purchase it, begins to experiment, and eventually becomes an apprentice to the town photographer. Woven into this story line are subplots about other unexplained fires, Asia's grandmother's growing dementia, concerns about the war, and the limitations set on women at the time. The dominant theme of Asia's desire to take pictures is slow moving, and readers may wonder when the camera will play a larger role. However, the characters are believable and unique. The author presents Grandmama in an especially realistic and endearing way, addressing her gradual dementia and its effects on her granddaughter. Boy's anger is explained as his past is revealed. Through the first-person narrative, Asia shares her thoughts and insights. This novel should appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction with a little romance. Although events unfold slowly, Ingold draws readers in and makes them want to know and understand the characters as they grow and change.
Susan Knell, Pittsburgh State University, Pittsburgh, KS
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 6^-9. Growing up during World War I, 15-year-old Asia falls in love immediately with the Kodak Autographic Camera in the window at Peats Pharmacy and, more gradually, with her old friend and neighbor, Nick. The plot thickens as she deals with different challenges: learning photography; the strictures placed upon young ladies; and her confused emotions about Nick and his cousin, Boy. There is also the issue of the fires an arsonist is setting in Asia's west Texas community. As she grows in confidence and understanding, Asia finds strength in her relationship with her grandmother and in the power of her art to reveal truth. Ingold weaves several strand of plot into a convincing narrative, but it is the fine characterization, particularly of Asia and her grandmother, that lies at the heart of this satisfying novel. At its best, the novel captures the nuances of ambivalent relationships, as well as the clarity of vision, that people can sometimes achieve. For Asia, it is usually through her photographs. Carolyn Phelan