Awards

• Short-listed for Rhode Island Children's Book Awards 2009
• Short-listed for Young Hoosier Book Award (Middle Grades) 2011

Overview

Newboy hasn't spoken in three years. One morning he opened his mouth and nothing came out. He doesn't know why he stopped talking, but what he does know is that he's through with the state child-care system. In twelve years he's lived in eleven foster homes, and the Knoxes are the worst of the bunch. Now, with no voice, no family, and no exact plan, Newboy is running away for good. Living on the streets means danger and excitement around every corner, but the one thing Newboy never expected to find is a companion in the form of an old ventriloquist dummy lying in a Dumpster ? a puppet with no hands, backward feet, and a chunk of its nose missing. Amazingly, this beat-up doll whom he dubs ?Stinko? possesses a kind of magic that helps Newboy rediscover his ability to communicate. This is a fast-paced adventure about a runaway kid figuring out not just what he's searching for but also what he has to say.

Full Product Details

9780374323059

Table of Contents

Reviews

Honest in its portrayal of a boy who's been on his own since birth . . . a powerful thumbnail of that harsh existence. -- Kirkus Reviews Readers will be riveted by Newboy's experiences. -- Booklist This parable of survival is riveting and yet manages a tender element while never lacking in bravado. -- School Library Journal The lad's plaintive musings . . . adds a tender note to this creatively layered, touching story. -- Publishers Weekly Unapologetically portrays life as full of danger and not for the faint of heart; and something always made better--fuller--with partners in crime. -- The Horn Book Finding Stinko is a remarkable novel. -- Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy

Author Information

MICHAEL DE GUZMAN is a former screenwriter and the author of several books for young readers, including The Bamboozlers. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

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