An engaging tale from Rodowsky (Not My Dog, p. 150, etc.) about an inveterate “fixer” who learns that some situations are beyond repair. In the summer after seventh grade, sensible, reliable Cassie’s world goes into a dizzying spin. Even as her sister, Cindy, lies in the maternity ward, Cassie spots her charming, funny brother-in-law, Mickey, making out with another woman. She has always prided herself on her ability to fix anything, from a conflict at school to collapsed sand castles, but the world of adult problems proves especially daunting: suddenly, with her newborn, Cindy’s moving back to the Spindrift, the bed-and-breakfast where Cassie lives with her mother and grandmother, Emma; Mickey is telling Cassie that he’s not ready to be tied down; and Cassie finds a bikini in her sister’s house that is definitely not Cindy’s. In the wake of all that comes her mother’s announcement that they’ll be moving, since Emma has found a buyer for the bed-and-breakfast. Rodowsky eases the strain for Cassie (and readers) by including a supporting cast of calming age-mates and Will, a wise older head. Mickey gets no sympathy, but he’s not completely vilified either; Cindy, angry and bitter, just labels him immature as she goes off to find a divorce lawyer. The far more promising wedding of Will and Emma ends the story on a rising tone. (Fiction. 11-13)
Pub Date: March 29, 2000
ISBN: 0-374-37155-5
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 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
PLB 0-688-13166-2 King Midas And The Golden Touch ($16.00; PLB $15.63; Apr.; 32 pp.; 0-688-13165-4; PLB 0-688-13166-2): The familiar tale of King Midas gets the golden touch in the hands of Craft and Craft (Cupid and Psyche, 1996). The author takes her inspiration from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s retelling, capturing the essence of the tale with the use of pithy dialogue and colorful description. Enchanting in their own right, the illustrations summon the Middle Ages as a setting, and incorporate colors so lavish that when they are lost to the uniform gold spurred by King Midas’s touch, the point of the story is further burnished. (Picture book. 7-9)
Pub Date: April 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-688-13165-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1999
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