06/18/2018
Jacobson (Paper Things) confronts loss and new beginnings in this potent and affirming novel. Lowen, a promising 11-year-old cartoonist, blames himself for the death of his friend Abe, who was killed in a convenience store shooting. When a former mill town offers dilapidated homes for one dollar, Abe sees the change of address as a perfect escape from the city and his guilt, and his family pins their hopes on the move. In the new town, Lowen’s British mother attempts to launch a Cornish pasty shop, and the whole family pitches in to make required repairs on their home. The narrative effectively portrays the clash between the family’s big dreams and the grim reality of the house, as well as tensions and resentments between the “dollar families” and the town residents. Jacobson memorably sketches Lowen’s family dynamics, particularly his complicated relationship with his older brother, and his journey offers a compelling portrait of community and rebirth. Andrews’s comics panels, which appear at several key intervals in the text, offer further insight into Lowen’s struggles, particularly his grief over Abe’s death. Ages 10–14. (Aug.)
When a family buys a house in a struggling town for just one dollar, they're hoping to start over - but have they traded one set of problems for another?
Twelve-year-old Lowen Grover is still reeling from the shooting death of his best friend, Abe, when he stumbles across an article about a small town giving away homes for just one dollar. It seems like the perfect escape from Flintlock and all of the awful memories associated with the city - and to his surprise, his mum, dad, and older brother are all onboard. Only his sister, Anneth, is reluctant to leave her friends and the familiarity (and amenities!) of Flintlock, but with the rest of the family anxious to do what's best for grief-stricken Lowen, her protests fall on deaf ears. But is the Dollar Program too good to be true? The homes are in much worse shape than it appeared from the pictures, and the locals aren't exactly welcoming. Some of them even seem to resent the so-called Dollar Families. Will Millville and the dollar house be the answer to the Grovers' troubles? From the author of Small as an Elephant and Paper Things comes a heart-tugging novel about guilt and grief, family and friendship, and, above all, community.
When a family buys a house in a struggling town for just one dollar, they're hoping to start over - but have they traded one set of problems for another?
Twelve-year-old Lowen Grover is still reeling from the shooting death of his best friend, Abe, when he stumbles across an article about a small town giving away homes for just one dollar. It seems like the perfect escape from Flintlock and all of the awful memories associated with the city - and to his surprise, his mum, dad, and older brother are all onboard. Only his sister, Anneth, is reluctant to leave her friends and the familiarity (and amenities!) of Flintlock, but with the rest of the family anxious to do what's best for grief-stricken Lowen, her protests fall on deaf ears. But is the Dollar Program too good to be true? The homes are in much worse shape than it appeared from the pictures, and the locals aren't exactly welcoming. Some of them even seem to resent the so-called Dollar Families. Will Millville and the dollar house be the answer to the Grovers' troubles? From the author of Small as an Elephant and Paper Things comes a heart-tugging novel about guilt and grief, family and friendship, and, above all, community.
Editorial Reviews
Product Details
BN ID: | 2940169615463 |
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Publisher: | Brilliance Audio |
Publication date: | 08/07/2018 |
Edition description: | Unabridged |
Age Range: | 10 - 13 Years |
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