Synopses & Reviews
Eleven-year-old Toby Steiner wants to do normal things on his vacation. He wants to hike and race his bike down the hill. He wants to learn to fish out on the lake. He doesnt want to return to the childrens hospital where his painful cancer treatment finally ended. When Toby starts spending time with Pearl, a spunky old woman who lives on a nearby farm, and Blossom, her broken-down cow, he sees all the more reason to keep the new lump on his side a secret from his parents. From Pearl he discovers the beauty of poetry, and from Blossom he just might uncover the meaning of life.
Review
"Real and poignant." -- Starred, Kirkus Reviews "This gripping story will send fans searching for this author's previous books." -- SIGNAL "Emotionally satisfying. Hobbs, a gifted writer, does a quietly effective job of dramatizing the life-affirming power of both poetry and a cross-generational friendship." -- Booklist "Without morbidity, Hobbs ranges between tart and poignant, sorrowful rage and hope." -- The Horn Book "This simple, touching story offers great characterization." -- VOYA "A heartwarming story of self-discovery." --A YALSA Teen YA Galley Reader
Review
“Real and poignant.”—
Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review “Beautiful and gripping . . . The victory of the human spirit shines through
Defiance like the sun.”—Suzanne Fisher Staples, Newbery Honor-winning author of
Shabanu “Emotionally satisfying. Hobbs, a gifted writer, does a quietly effective job of dramatizing the life-affirming power of both poetry and a cross-generational friendship.”—
Booklist “The wit and wisdom of poetry give this potentially sentimental plot depth and a welcome acidity. Hobbs dry humor is deliciously evident in Pearls ironic take on things.”—
The Horn Book“A poetic tale of empowerment with gentle touches of humor.”—School Library Journal “This simple, touching story offers great characterization.”—Voice of Youth Advocates “This gripping story will send fans searching for this authors previous books.”—SIGNAL Journal “A heartwarming story of self-discovery.”—A YALSA Teen YA Galley Reader
Synopsis
Eleven-year-old Toby Steiner, battling cancer, finds inspiration from an old woman and strength from a broken-down cow.
Synopsis
Eleven-year-old Toby Steiner wants to do normal things on his vacation. He wants to hike and race his bike down the hill. He wants to learn to fish out on the lake. He doesnt want to return to the childrens hospital where his painful cancer treatment finally ended. When Toby starts spending time with Pearl, a spunky old woman who lives on a nearby farm, and Blossom, her broken-down cow, he sees all the more reason to keep the new lump on his side a secret from his parents. From Pearl he discovers the beauty of poetry, and from Blossom he just might uncover the meaning of life.
About the Author
Valerie Hobbs is the recipient of the 1999 PEN/Norma Klein Award, a biennial prize that recognizes "an emerging voice of literary merit among American writers of children's fiction." She is the author of young adult and middle-grade novels including Sheep, Anything but Ordinary, and The Last Best Days of Summer. She holds a B.A. and an M.A. in English from the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she has taught academic writing. Valerie lives in Santa Barbara, California, with her husband.