Trinity Soup

By Carolyn Ortiz

A bright and talented young African-American girl, Danielle Webb lives in an upper-middle-class neighborhood along the central California coast and attends a private elementary school with her best friend, Francesco. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when her father's business fails, placing a financial and emotional strain on the entire family.

After many months of slamming doors and angry whispers, her parents separate, and ten-year-old Danielle must leave her cozy, familiar world to attend a public junior high school, where she faces the challenge of fitting in and making new friends. For the first time in her life, she must confront issues related to race, social class, and the importance of religion in the African American community.

In time, Danielle befriends Maya, a cheerful, religious girl. As their friendship grows, the girls learn from one another and ultimately develop a deeper appreciation of culture, family, and spirituality. Trinity Soup shows how Danielle's strength and determination help her to overcome the challenges in her life.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 059544718X
• ISBN13: 9780595447183
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 100 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

New Beginnings

Danielle Webb is intelligent, loves exotic foods and is organized. She and her parents, Douglas and Elizabeth, are the only black family who live in their neighborhood in the small California town. She attends Cypress Elementary, a private school, with her best friend, Francesco De Palma. Even at ten and a half she already knows that girls can be a little touchy. When Douglas starts his own sports memorabilia store, things for the Webb family become edgy. Elizabeth is angry, but Danielle understands her dad's need to live out his dream. Will Danielle learn to adjust to all of the changes in her life? "Trinity Soup" is an easy and inspiring read! It characterizes family, cultures and spirituality that I believe any and all age groups can relate to. Reviewed by: Marshae Teen Reviewer 4.5 stars

Easy to relate to

Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 11) for Reader Views (10/08) Have you ever had to change schools? It can't be easy having to leave all that is familiar and venturing into a whole different school. This requires making new friends, adjusting to different teachers and having to rely on your own self to make the changes that you need to make in yourself. Danielle Webb seems to have it all. She has two parents that shower her with all their attention and give her lots of gifts. She goes to a private school and has a very special friendship with Francesco. She also gets to play Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Megan Donovan is very unhappy; she feels cheated since she has to play the Wicked Witch of the West rather than the main character. She is very happy to spend a few weeks touring Europe with them. However, when they get back, her life takes a horrible turn. The sports memorabilia business which her dad bought is not doing any good. In fact, he has been taking out way too many loans to try to keep the business afloat. But his marriage has been falling apart and can't be put back together. Danielle gets shifted from one parent to the other with joint custody. They have to break the news to her that she has to change from her private school to going to public school. Danielle makes a new friend in Maya at her new school. Maya and Danielle learn a lot about each other and their unique customs; they develop a friendship somewhat similar to hers with Francesco. Maya even stands up for Danielle when the "cool girls," Felicia and Gabby, make fun of her. I go to a private school too. I can relate to how hard it would be to switch from a private school to a public school. I enjoyed "Trinity Soup" very much. It's a book which covers a lot of topics that are much a part of life today, such as a parent's divorce, and cultural differences which are more common today than they were when my parents were younger. This is a great book for someone who has ever had to change schools or deal with divorce. It's written from a young preteen girl's perspective. I hope Carolyn Ortiz writes more great books like this.

A Wonderful Addition To Any Young Reader's Book Collection

(Official Apex Reviews Rating: 4.5 Stars) Danielle Webb is a bright, talented, and nice young girl who lives with her family in an upper-middle-class neighborhood. She also attends a private school with her best friend, Francesco. When her father's business fails, Danielle and her family find themselves in financial and emotional trouble. On top of the business failing, her parents have separated, and Danielle must now leave everything she's ever known and attend a public junior high school, where she finds it's not very easy making new friends. Eventually, Danielle befriends Maya, and, as their friendship grows, they learn the many values that each other's different cultures have to offer. Younger readers will definitely enjoy Trinity Soup and watch as Danielle overcomes many of the obstacles that young girls must face these days. There are many lessons to be learned in this story, and readers are fortunate that there is a book out there that can make them feel positive about change. Trinity Soup reassures young people that there is hope, even when they feel that all is lost. A wonderful, heartwarming addition to any young reader's book collection! Brooke Carleton Apex Reviews

Just Be All You Can Be

Trinity Soup by Carolyn Ortiz is about overcoming obstacles and being the best you can, even under circumstances that are beyond your control. Danielle Webb, a ten-year- old, upper middle class girl is the type of child who seems to excel at everything she does. At ten years old she is able to emulate the cooks she sees on the Food Network and fix meals for her family, along with her playmate, Francesco. She beats out her best friend, Megan, for the starring role in the school play and when family issues cause her to have to move from her exclusive private school and attend a public school, she learns to fit in and makes new friends. I think young readers (9-12) will enjoy this book. There are good lessons on being able to accomplish whatever you aspire, and overcoming challenges life throws at you. We all know that changes are not easy and the author did not try to make Danielle's transistion easy, but she was able to show a strong and united family structure. I would recommend this book to be put on your list for young girls on your gift list.