Rachna Gilmore,
The Trouble with Dilly
Harper Trophy Canada, 2009

Rating: E*

After saving her money for what seemed forever, Dilly Ahuja is looking forward to buying brand-new, not second hand, hockey skates. However, her plan takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a shoplifter in her family’s grocery store. Because Dilly had on several occasions watched him take chocolate bars without paying for them, out of anger, she exposes the shoplifter in front of his parents while they are shopping in the store. Dilly’s mother is not only surprised; she is disappointed in Dilly.

The shoplifter is Gedion Imre. Gedion, a boy around Dilly’s age, lives with his parents in a rented apartment above Dilly’s parents’ store. The Imre family came from Hungary to Canada several months ago. Gedion’s embarrassed parents put their groceries back on the shelf in order to pay for the candy bar. After the Imre family leaves, Dilly’s mother takes Dilly aside and explains why she is disappointed in Dilly’s behaviour. She tells Dilly that Gedion and his family are having a difficult time adjusting to their new country. Gedion and his parents are not only missing their friends and relatives from Hungary, but also expecting a new baby very soon. In addition, Mr. Imre is finding it difficult to find work. Dilly’s mother explains that the Imre family needs a helping hand and that Dilly should have handled the situation in a kinder and gentler fashion. After reflecting on what her mother told her, Dilly comes to realize the some of her anger toward Gedion came from her own selfishness. She has always wanted a pair of brand new skates, and she thought that because of people like Gedion, her parents never had enough money to buy them for her. Dilly decides to find a way to make up for her selfishness and unkind behaviour toward the Imre family. With the help of her close friends, Olivia Chan and April Henley, and the people in her neighbourhood, Dilly plans a spectacular welcoming Christmas party for the Imres. As more and more people in the community learn about the party and want to help, Dilly’s plan grows and grows until Dilly is worried that her good deed might be too much to handle.

Thematic Links: Friendship; Family; Immigrants; Tolerance; Culturally Diverse Neighbourhood; Community Service

Helen Mecca
Vol. 15, number 1
October 2009

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.