An odd, rather disjointed book about a seventh-grade girl who loosens up after having spent her entire life following a series of rules that she believes are set down by her mother, teachers, and other adults, but are really her own internal construct. When asked to name her guiding principle, Larch Waysorta, who thinks in “neat lists” and “orderly rows,” answers “The Rules Are the Rules.” For the local Founder’s Day celebration, Larch’s class is creating a town Who’s Who, and Larch is assigned to interview Mr. Prouty, the school janitor. From him she accidentally learns that her taciturn mother, who never discusses her father or the car crash that killed him when she was a baby, was driving that fateful night. Larch immediately, uncharitably, and not very credibly assigns blame, saying, “Mom never told me how she killed my dad.” An encounter with an ugly stray dog changes Larch’s point of view on condemning before all the facts are in, and she learns that while rules are important, they must be tempered with justice and mercy. The duel story lines, Larch’s attempt to reach out to her silent, guilt-ridden, uncommunicative mother, and her life-changing interaction with a rat-catching dog, is certainly an intriguing mix. Larch’s telling is often funny and appealing; the stories work together intellectually; and readers should understand Zinnen’s message. Still, the book never achieves emotional synergy, and although the protagonist changes for the better, she does not become truly likable in this unusual but dramatically uneven novel. (Fiction. 8-12)
Pub Date: Feb. 28, 2001
ISBN: 0-06-028799-3
Page Count: 160
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2000
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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