R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed An Episode of Sparrows (New York Review Children's Collection) on + 1438 more book reviews
Very nice tale. Lovejoy is the key character whose seeming toughness hides the tender heart within. Two elderly sisters observe the lives of Lovejoy and the other children on their street. Olivia and Angela are as different as two siblings can be. Olivia loves watching the children. Living with a health condition she finds their lively antics comforting. She especially enjoys the blossoming friendship between Tip, local tough who leads a gang, and Lovejoy. Angela views the children as hoodlums.
Lovejoy finds a package of flower seeds and discovers that she could garden. She looks around the cluttered landscape until she finds a spot she can plant. She does not know that the spot is located in Tip's gang territory. When the gang discovers the garden they destroy it. As the boys leave, Tip looks back at Lovejoy, realizing what they have done. He comforts her and helps her find an isolated place behind near a church. The two gather soil from a public area and plant a new garden. An enraged Angela calls the authorities and matters escalate from there.
This charming story reflects images of Cinderella. Why? Readers will have to discover this tale for themselves to see why. It's so well written that one wants to find other books by the author.
Lovejoy finds a package of flower seeds and discovers that she could garden. She looks around the cluttered landscape until she finds a spot she can plant. She does not know that the spot is located in Tip's gang territory. When the gang discovers the garden they destroy it. As the boys leave, Tip looks back at Lovejoy, realizing what they have done. He comforts her and helps her find an isolated place behind near a church. The two gather soil from a public area and plant a new garden. An enraged Angela calls the authorities and matters escalate from there.
This charming story reflects images of Cinderella. Why? Readers will have to discover this tale for themselves to see why. It's so well written that one wants to find other books by the author.
