Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia

by Barbara O'Connor

Overview

From the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Wish
A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
This inspiring, humorous title from Barbara O’Connor is perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo.


All her life, the only thing Bird has ever wanted is to be noticed in her small town and to get to Disney World. As it turns out, Bird could have a chance to realize at least one of her goals because of a state spelling bee, and she might get to make a friend along the way—a boy named Harlem Tate who has just moved to Freedom. Harlem seems like a kindred spirit—someone like Bird, whom people don't usually take the time to find the good in. (Unless it's someone like Miss Delphine, who always makes Bird feel special.) But as much as Bird tries to get his attention, Harlem is not easily won over. Then Harlem agrees to be her partner in the spelling bee, and if they study hard enough, the two might just win everything Bird's always wanted.


Don't miss Barbara O'Connor's other heartwarming middle-grade titles:
Wish
Wonderland
How to Steal a Dog
Greetings from Nowhere
Beethoven in Paradise
The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester
The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis
On the Road to Mr. Mineo's
Halfway to Harmony
and Dream, the standalone companion to Wish, coming to bookstores on 8/26/25!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466809932
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	04/01/2008
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
Lexile:	740L (what's this?)
File size:	135 KB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Barbara O'Connor is the author of numerous acclaimed books for children, including Me and Rupert Goody, Greetings from Nowhere and How to Steal a Dog. She has been awarded the Parents' Choice Gold and Silver Awards, the Massachusetts Book Award, and the Dolly Gray Award, among many honors. As a child, she loved dogs, salamanders, tap dancing, school, and even homework. Her favorite days were when the bookmobile came to town. She was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, and now lives in Duxbury, Massachusetts, a historic seaside village not far from Plymouth Rock.
Barbara O’Connor was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, and currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina. She has written many beloved and award-winning books for children, including Dream, Halfway to Harmony, How to Steal a Dog, and the #1 New York Times bestseller Wish.

Reading Group Guide

Discussion Questions:

1. How can you be a friend? What could you do to help Bird if she was in your class? If Harlem moved to your school, what could you do to make him feel welcome?

2. If you were going to be in a spelling bee, what are some ways to study words? What ways did Bird and Harlem use in the book?

3. Bird wanted people to see her true self. However, she makes assumptions about Harlem that turn out not to be true. What did she believe about him? What are some other assumptions made about characters in this book?

Activity Suggestions:

1. Make a flyer for the spelling bee, including the rules and prizes.

2. How could someone get glasses if they couldn't afford them? Invite the school counselor to talk to the class about helping the less fortunate. Brainstorm ideas the class could carry out, such as helping at a soup kitchen or collecting food for a food bank.

3. Locate Valdosta, Georgia, on a map. Although Freedom, Georgia, is an imaginary town, authors sometimes set their story in a real town but change the name. Select and research a town that might have been used as a model for Freedom. Make an informational brochure for this town. Be prepared to explain why you think this town might be Freedom, Georgia.

Editorial Reviews

When Bird decides to make a friend of Harlem Tate, the big new boy in sixth grade who looks mean and acts dumb, she gets whopped upside the head with a dose of reality. Bird has two goals in life: one, to make the pea-flicking kids notice her; and two, to go to Disney World. With her bowed, skinny legs, toothpick arms, stringy hair, and weird outfits, that first goal isn’t likely, but when she convinces Harlem to be her partner for the spelling bee, the prize trip to Disney World might be within reach. Harlem lives with can-collecting Mr. Moody above Ray’s Tattoo Parlor, where they practice spelling. Surprisingly, Harlem is a talented speller, but blows the contest by running off the stage. Bird’s friend, Miss Delphine, the beautiful young woman next door who cares for her invalid father, persuades Bird to remain Harlem’s friend and unearth his problem. Bird’s original voice has charm, grit, and spunkiness that, combined with small town sensibilities, unique characters, and humor, spell out a winner. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews

Finely tuned.” —Starred, Booklist

“Bird's original voice has charm, grit, and spunkiness that, combined with small town sensibilities, unique characters, and humor, spell out a winner.” —Starred, Kirkus Reviews

“An idiosyncratic group of characters play out this touching and well-paced story about friendship, family, and connection.” —Horn Book Magazine

“Bird is literary kin to Scout, heroine of Harper Lee's famous "To Kill a Mockingbird.…as charming and fresh as …the month of May.” —Boston Globe

From the Publisher