A LIKELY LAD

by Gillian Avery ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 30, 1994

Turn-of-the-century working-class England comes to life in this tale of an endearing and inquisitive boy. At six, Willy Overs, eldest son of a Manchester candy merchant, is marked as ""a likely lad"" when he defends his right to pick flowers in a public park. From that moment his father plans Willy's life, dreaming that he'll scale the corporate ladder and take a place among the city's celebrated men -- and thereby win the competition between the Overs and their relations and rivals, the Sowters. But Willy doesn't share his father's fancy; he loves books and dreads his 13th birthday, when he must leave school and begin work at an insurance company. Larger-than-life characters and elaborate descriptions contribute to the classic feel of this gentle adventure, originally published in Britain in 1971. Like a Dickens protagonist, Willy stumbles into his fate with such disarming frankness that his escapades will make ""likely"" prospects for today's readers. This first US edition features appropriately humorous pencil illustrations.

Pub Date: June 30, 1994

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 300

Publisher: S&S

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1994

Categories: CHILDREN'S