Gr 5-7-Two outsiders warily become friends and join forces to hatch and raise an owl in this problem novel. David, 11, has been shuttled between foster homes for years. Now he has been placed with a woman who has the patience to deal with his stuttering and dyspraxia, and he begins to make great strides thanks to her understanding; his new friend, Mab; and King Arthur the owl. It is David's insecurity and need for closeness that doom the animal, but the friendship itself survives. David and Mab are successfully developed characters, but the secondary characters are not as well delineated. The hatching and development of the owl keep the story moving and help to compensate for some of the plot details that seem tacked on. David's story is adequately told, and the author wisely leaves some of his problems unresolved. This book may find an audience where outsider tales are in demand.-Faith Brautigam, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
The Very Worst Thing
Number one on David's list of The Very Worst Things is NOTHING. To him, it means not belonging anywhere. It means not owning a single toy. Living in foster homes for the last six years, David now has trouble making friends and keeping up in school. More than anything in the world, he just wants something to call his own. He thinks he's found that something when he hatches an owl named King Arthur with the help of his "girl genius" friend, Mab. But when it looks like King Arthur must be set free, David learns a powerful lesson. The real "good stuff " in life isn't something he can own. Like the friends in The Very Worst Thing, Torey Hayden once hatched and raised a short-eared owl. This is her first novel for young readers, though she has also written best-selling adult books. An educational psychologist and special education teacher, Torey Hayden lives on a farm in Wales with her family.
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The Very Worst Thing
Number one on David's list of The Very Worst Things is NOTHING. To him, it means not belonging anywhere. It means not owning a single toy. Living in foster homes for the last six years, David now has trouble making friends and keeping up in school. More than anything in the world, he just wants something to call his own. He thinks he's found that something when he hatches an owl named King Arthur with the help of his "girl genius" friend, Mab. But when it looks like King Arthur must be set free, David learns a powerful lesson. The real "good stuff " in life isn't something he can own. Like the friends in The Very Worst Thing, Torey Hayden once hatched and raised a short-eared owl. This is her first novel for young readers, though she has also written best-selling adult books. An educational psychologist and special education teacher, Torey Hayden lives on a farm in Wales with her family.
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Editorial Reviews
Product Details
BN ID: | 2940171315375 |
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Publisher: | Recorded Books, LLC |
Publication date: | 01/08/2016 |
Edition description: | Unabridged |
Sales rank: | 987,667 |
Age Range: | 10 - 13 Years |
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