1960 Newbery Medal winner

Onion John is the town eccentric. He becomes friends with 12-year-old Andy, and their friendship ends up changing both of their lives.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book went to dinner with JudySlump612 and TOC and went home with someone else. Enjoy!

Released for crrcookie's November 2009 - Bountiful Harvest Food Release Challenge; this is also an E-less release.

I'm still thinking hard about the ideas in this book - a GOOD thing. It certainly deserves its Newberry Medal. For one thing, it's very well written and easy to read. Also, all the characters are interesting and credible. with lots of detail about everyday small-town life (the scene of Andy helping his dad take inventory in the hardware store was especially good). The author keeps leading up to, and then swerving away from, points of literary cliche. Readers will have lots of chances to re-examine their ideas about friendship, family, and goals in life.

I'll be releasing this at a very family-friendly cafe where all ages show up - the ice cream and gelato are terrific, a perfect touch for Minnesota's all-too-brief summer.

On bookshelves next to fireplace. Our ice cream flavor choice tonight was dark chocolate orange spice - oooh, wonderful!