Daniel has had to move to a new town, a new house, a new school and a new neighbourhood. Daniel, aged nine, is not happy. He desperately misses his dad who is now living and working far away. His mum seems remote and distracted. Nothing, nothing, nothing seems to happen in his new street called While-a-Way Lane. Luckily Daniel is a boy with an imagination. He is an observant boy and a curious one. He sees his elderly neighbour Tilda Butter talking to herself. He watches the mailman Dewey Wonder and thinks his behaviour is suspicious. There is also something very odd about the piano teacher. Daniel decides to become a spy.
Now let's meet Tilda. She has lived in this same house in While-a-Way lane since was a very young girl. Her parents were performers and one summer they left Tilda with her Aunt Sippy. Her parents never returned. Aunt Sippy died a long time ago and so now Tilda lives alone with her dog Fred. But Tilda has a gift. As the title implies perhaps Daniel has one too. Tilda's gift means she can understand the language of animals - all animals such as spiders, ants and even a small snake that lives in her garden. The only animal she cannot understand is her dog Fred.
Living in this town there are lots of fireflies. When she was young the fireflies were attracted to Tilda and now it seems they have found Daniel:
"He saw a group of tiny twinkling lights in front of him. Was it a falling star? The sparkles moved closer and surrounded Daniel, casting a glow on him like a spotlight. Fireflies! ... Daniel peddled quickly past Tilda Butter's mailbox to see what the fireflies would do. To his amazement, they kept up, circling him like a hug."
At school Daniel discovers there are plans to stage the play of Peter Pan. This is Daniel's favourite book. He longs to get a role as one of the lost boys. Yes he is a lost boy in real life. Over the coming weeks Daniel will score a small part in the play, he will make friends with Tilda along with a girl who has a lemonade stand. His anger will subside. He will ride the town Ferris wheel. Things will change for Tilda too. And for Dewey Wonder!
The lost boy's gift is an easy read (ages 8+) but the story packs a real punch. I loved the way each chapter alternated between Daniel and Tilda. The Tilda chapters are quite delightful especially the scene where she serves tea to the spider who resides in her garden and the gentle unfolding of her relationship with Dewey Wonder. I also enjoyed the town map which has such delightful names - Tooth Fairy Dentistry; This n'That Street; Fly me to the Moon kite shop; and Penny's Pogo Stick Store.
Read Chapter One here. For more plot details read the Kirkus Star review. Here is the website for Kimberly Willis Holt; and my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything has a post about Jonathan Bean.
The town of Falling Star Valley reminded me of Rosetown and the relationships in The Truth of Me. Older readers might enjoy a similar book - Walking with Miss Millie.
No comments:
Post a Comment