Winkler’s debut for children is an offbeat, darkly humorous tale that takes a preteen from the death of his father to a healing round of Thanksgiving deliveries to local children’s shelters, with murder, romance, adolescent pranks, and plenty of growing up in between. Scotty narrates, but the plot revolves around both his mother’s recovery from grief, and his classmate Mick Stewart. Mick compensates for an abusive father and an alcoholic mother with a rich fantasy life in which he, as “The Gypsy Bandit,” performs deeds of derring-do with the help of imaginary friend Reese and reluctant but real friend, Scotty, dubbed “Durango.” Already a focus of attention at school because of the death in his family, Scotty becomes downright notorious when Mick disappears, leaving the brutal Mr. Stewart bludgeoned to death and buried in the backyard. While worrying about his friend, and being hard as can be on his mother once she begins seeing a local shoe store owner (who becomes much more intriguing stepfather-material after Scotty finds out that he used to be a circus clown), Scotty also finally breaks the ice with longtime crush, Lynette. A sudden impulse of his mother’s ends the story with a stitched-on but heartwarming set piece. Overall, it’s patchwork storytelling, but the tone is reminiscent of that found in Jack Gantos’s autobiographical novels (Jack on the Tracks, 1999, etc.), and the cast is enjoyably quirky. (Fiction. 11-14)
Pub Date: March 27, 2000
ISBN: 0-374-36420-6
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2000
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Lunge-Larsen and Preus debut with this story of a flower that blooms for the first time to commemorate the uncommon courage of a girl who saves her people from illness. The girl, an Ojibwe of the northern woodlands, knows she must journey to the next village to get the healing herb, mash-ki- ki, for her people, who have all fallen ill. After lining her moccasins with rabbit fur, she braves a raging snowstorm and crosses a dark frozen lake to reach the village. Then, rather than wait for morning, she sets out for home while the villagers sleep. When she loses her moccasins in the deep snow, her bare feet are cut by icy shards, and bleed with every step until she reaches her home. The next spring beautiful lady slippers bloom from the place where her moccasins were lost, and from every spot her injured feet touched. Drawing on Ojibwe sources, the authors of this fluid retelling have peppered the tale with native words and have used traditional elements, e.g., giving voice to the forces of nature. The accompanying watercolors, with flowing lines, jewel tones, and decorative motifs, give stately credence to the story’s iconic aspects. (Picture book/folklore. 4-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-395-90512-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1999
In his quest for easy moolah, Owen learns that the road to financial solvency can be rocky and fraught with work. Greene (Owen Foote, Soccer Star, 1998, etc.) touches upon the often-thorny issue of chores and allowances: Owen’s mom wants him to help out because he’s part of the family and not just for the money—while Owen wants the money without having to do tedious household chores. This universal dilemma leaves Owen without funds and eagerly searching for ways to make a quick buck. His madcap schemes range from original—a “free” toilet demonstration that costs 50 cents—to disastrous, as during the trial run of his children’s fishing video, Owen ends up hooking his ear instead of a trout. Enlisting the aid of his stalwart, if long-suffering, friend Joseph, the two form a dog-walking club that becomes vastly restricted in clientele after Owen has a close encounter with an incontinent, octogenarian canine. Ultimately, Owen learns a valuable lesson about work and money when an unselfish action is generously rewarded. These sudden riches motivate Owen to consider wiser investments for his money than plastic vomit. Greene’s crisp writing style and wry humor is on-target for young readers. Brief chapters revolving around a significant event or action and fast pacing are an effective draw for tentative readers. Weston’s (Space Guys!, p. 392, etc.) black-and-white illustrations, ranging in size from quarter- to full-page, deftly portray Owen’s humorous escapades. A wise, witty addition to Greene’s successful series. (Fiction. 8-10)
Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2000
ISBN: 0-618-02369-0
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2000
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