One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street

One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street
By Joanne Rocklin
Amulet Books, 2011. 207 pages. Fiction.

Robert is an aspiring magician, Ali has a baby brother who suffers from a terminal illness, Leandra is furious at the prospect of a new baby sister, and Bunny experiences anxiety when her mother is away. These four children who have grown up together on Orange Street are in for a day of discovery and adventure. On this particular day, a stranger comes to look around the childrens' hangout, an abandoned lot that is home to the last surviving tree from their neighborhood's orange grove. The oldest person on the street, Mrs. Snoops, is the only one who might know who this strange man is. (The children call her Mrs. Snoops because she knows everything about everyone who has ever set foot on Orange Street.) The only problem is, she suffers from dementia and has trouble remembering much. Read to find out what secrets unfold!

What a superb, slice-of-life juvenile novel! The everyday, real-life details are so funny. Don't we all know an old neighborhood snoop? This is a perfect read for a beautiful summer day, or on a day when you just need some light in your life. The mystery is lighthearted but still interesting.

Comments

Marsha Judkins said…

Sounds like a super fun book--I am going to read it thanks to your review!

April 1, 2011 at 9:33 AM

Review: Faker

Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...

If You Like...Ladybugs

Spring is almost upon us! We'll have more rain instead of snow, flowers will start blooming, and more bugs will be out. Ladybugs are some of the prettiest insects--and the least intimidating for those more wary of bugs. If you like ladybugs, check out these books! Ladybugs Do Not Go to Preschool Written by Ali Rutstein Illustrated by Nin̋a Nill Richmond, VA: Bright Light, 2024. Picture Book. Ravi loves ladybugs--he eats aphids instead of cornflakes for breakfast, brushes his mandibles instead of teeth, and has a ladybug costume complete with wings and antennae. He is certain that ladybugs don't have to go to preschool, and when Mom says that Ravi still has to go to school, he is nervous. However, thanks to Mom's patience and gentle encouragement, Ravi makes some new friends and realizes that preschool might be a good place for ladybugs after all. A Perfect Spot By Isabelle Simler Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book. A ladybug is ready to ...

You Need to Read: Percy Jackson

I was a kid myself when The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan was published, and it didn't take long for the Percy Jackson series to take the world by storm. Being the son of a Poseidon, Percy Jackson has some unique challenges as a half-blood. Here's some books that I think could've helped Percy when he was on his adventures trying to save the world: Greeking Out: Heroes and Olympians Written by Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes Illustrated by Javier Espila Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2024. Informational. 191 pages. Percy, I know Chiron did a good job teaching you about mythology in Latin class, but this book is sure to be good to have on hand while you're traveling across the United States. Greeking Out is written in a kid-friendly voice with vivid illustrations and a sometimes-snarky tone (much like Percy himself). It also presents real-life creatures and places along with the information about Greek mythology. The Homework Squad's ADHD Guide to School S...

Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Search This Blog