Phineas L. MacGuire--known as Mac--is a fourth-grader who loves science, but his hopes of winning first place in the science fair are compromised when he has to team up with the obnoxious new kid. Predictable fare as the boys figure out each other's talents and become friends, but Mac and Ben are appealing young men, the supporting characters are likeable, and the message that one should do one's best to get along and to use one's talents is delivered with a light touch.
Stand Tall
By Siena Siegel
by Joan Bauer
Putnam, 2002, 182 pgs Realistic Fiction
Tree is 12 years old and over 6 feet tall. That would be great if he were a basketball player, but he is not. Dealing with his unusual size is not Tree's only challenge. Tree's parents have recently gone through a divorce, and his grandfather has had his leg amputated as the result of an old Vietnam War injury. The strength of this book is the characterizations. All of the main characters are dimensional and sympathetic. Bauer sets the characters in real and often funny family situations. Best of all is the character of Tree. He is boy with a heart to match his stature. This is a great book for boys or girls ages 9-12, as a read aloud or for individual reading. This book could also be a good Rx book for children whose families are going through divorce, or for anyone who feels like they don't fit in.
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