Awards

• Short-listed for Virginia Readers Choice Award (Elementary) 2014
• Short-listed for Young Hoosier Book Award (Intermediate) 2014

Overview

A story about small acts of courage from the author of A Crooked Kind of Perfect. Do not let a mop sit overnight in water. Fix things before they get too big for fixing. Custodial wisdom: Mattie Breen writes it all down. She has just one week to convince Uncle Potluck to take her on as his custodial apprentice at Mitchell P. Anderson Elementary School. One week until school starts and she has to be the new girl again. But if she can be Uncle Potluck's apprentice, she'll have important work to do during lunch and recess. Work that will keep her safely away from the other fifth graders. But when her custodial wisdom goes all wrong, Mattie's plan comes crashing down. And only then does she begin to see how one small, brave act can lead to a friend who is hound dog true.

Full Product Details

9780547558691

Table of Contents

Reviews

<p> This outstanding, emotionally resonant effort will appeal to middle-grade readers. -- Kirkus , starred review <p><p> Urban (A Crooked Kind of Perfect) traces a highly self-conscious child's cautious emergence from her shell in this tender novel about new beginnings and small brave acts... Urban's understated, borderline naif narrative gives voice to Mattie's many uncertainties ( Always Mattie has been shy. Always school had made her feel skittish and small ) while expressing the quiet yet significant moments in her day-to-day life. Mattie's growing trust of others and her attempts to be bold and friendly lead to gratifying rewards for Mattie and poignant moments for readers.. -- Publishers Weekly , starred review

<p> This outstanding, emotionally resonant effort will appeal to middle-grade readers. -- Kirkus , starred review <p><p> Urban (A Crooked Kind of Perfect) traces a highly self-conscious child's cautious emergence from her shell in this tender novel about new beginnings and small brave acts... Urban's understated, borderline naif narrative gives voice to Mattie's many uncertainties ( Always Mattie has been shy. Always school had made her feel skittish and small ) while expressing the quiet yet significant moments in her day-to-day life. Mattie's growing trust of others and her attempts to be bold and friendly lead to gratifying rewards for Mattie and poignant moments for readers.. -- Publishers Weekly , starred review <p> Internal drama, compelling characters, and Mattie's strong voice propel the story of learning to do a small brave thing. -- Booklist

<p> This outstanding, emotionally resonant effort will appeal to middle-grade readers. -- Kirkus , starred review

Author Information

Linda Urban's debut novel, A Crooked Kind of Perfect, was a BookSense pick, a New York Public Library Best Book for Reading and Sharing, and was nominated for twenty state awards. A former independent bookseller at Vroman's in Pasadena, California, she now writes full time in Montpelier, Vermont, where she lives with her family. Visit her website at www.lindaurbanbooks.com

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