A starred review from School Library Journal for
On the Road to Mr. Mineo's!
Gr 3-6–Nestled in the
scenic South Carolina countryside is a quiet town called Meadville. Summers are
ordinary, but wonderful, filled with bike rides, swimming lessons, and the
antics of imaginative children. Stella is eager for adventure and longs for a
pet to be her constant companion. She spends her days with her best friend,
Gerald, on the roof of his garage conjuring up “good ideas” that usually bring
some type of misfortune on him. One typical day, an unexpected visitor
arrives–a one-legged pigeon that sets Stella on a mission to catch it and claim
it as her own. However, she is not the only person eager to catch this fickle
rogue. There are many others, equally as determined to snare the elusive bird.
This heartwarming tale of a town coming together in an unexpected way will
delight readers. Children will eagerly follow the twists and turns in this
story of friendship and loneliness, giving and receiving. O’Connor sets the
stage beautifully from the very beginning, painting the small town in brilliant
colors with her descriptive imagery. Older elementary students will easily
relate to the nuances of the relationships between older and younger children
as well as the angst of sibling rivalry. The theme of everyone working together
to achieve a common goal is strong, and the ending is touching and satisfying.
1 comment:
OF COURSE...we all knew any new read from the wonderful Barbara O'Connor would be a delight. But isn't it wonderful to be praised by SLJ in such a magnificent way? Congratulations, Barbara, for being recognized for bringing such joy into the world of children and adults alike.
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