Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Not-just-any novel, Byars's latest races without pause between hilarious, suspenseful and touching crises. Rogers's drawings are fine but almost unneeded; every scene is vividly described from the moment Maggie and Vern await their little brother Junior's flight from the barn on his handmade wings. Hearing a police car near their isolated rural home, the older children scamper; Junior falls, breaks his leg, and the cops take him to the hospital in town. Here the boy learns that their Grandpa is in jail and that Vern (with Maggie's help) has broken into the man's cell through a high window. The feat makes celebrities of the family and brings the children's widowed mother, a rodeo-circuit rider, home posthaste. Junior's roommate, Ralphie, who tells terrible lies (``the ice cream is doped; I'll eat yours, I'm immune''); Mud, Grandpa's lost dog who defies all obstacles to get to his loved one; and everybody in the Newbery Medalist's new story will capture her readers' hearts. Pity poor grownups who don't have the pleasure of such endearing company. (10-up) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-This charming, quirky story (Delacorte, 1986) by Betsy Byars begins with a normal day in the life of the Blossom family. Junior is about to fly off the barn roof while his brother, Vern, and sister, Maggie, stand witness. Their mother is away on the rodeo circuit. Pap is heading to town to cash in 2000 beer and soda cans and bottles. Suddenly, chaos breaks loose-Pap is sent to jail for causing a public disturbance when the cans and bottles fall out of his truck, Vern and Maggie abandon Junior as they run from the police, and Junior falls from the roof and breaks his legs. In the end, all of the Blossoms are back home for a joyful reunion. Although the conclusion is predictable and the events are far-fetched, comic antics keep listeners absorbed. Fairman Blain's voice changes for each character ring true except for the squeaky, feminine tones for a jail inmate and an auto mechanic. A fun listen.-Cynthia Grabke, Halifax Elementary School, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Another wonderfully ebullient tale from Byars about ordinary children whose courage and perseverance lead them into astonishing situations. Byars neatly weaves the threads of four experiences into one lively plot. We first meet little Junior Blossom on the barn roof; he is planning to fly with the aid of wings tied on by his taunting siblings, Veto and Maggie, and a considerable imagination. Junior falls, breaking both legs, and lands in the hospital. Vern and Maggie flee to the woods. Why are the police there? (Grand) Paw has accidentally spilled a truck full of recyclable cans and waved a gun at some boys who heedlessly scattered them further, so he's in jail and the police are trying to check up on the kids left in his care by widowed Mom, who makes them all a meager living tiding in rodeos. Vern and Maggie try to get in touch with Mom and try to, find out what's become of Junior; they make headlines by succeeding in breaking into jail so that Vern can join Paw. Junior breaks out of the hospital with the aid of his roommate, Ralphie, who lacks a leg and is a terror; equipped with a wheelchair, they get to court in time for Paw's trial. Needless to say, all ends happily. Byars is a master of perfectly chosen incident and phrase in a deceptively simple and accessible style. Not just anybody, the Blossoms should be greeted with wholehearted enthusiasm. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.