What do you think?
Rate this book
Steady, Freddie
While her father was Super of the Almont, twelve-year-old Linda had more friends and a nicer apartment than ever before in her life. Then word came that the building was to be torn down.
101 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
About the author
Scott Corbett
89 books28 followersScott Corbett (July 27, 1913 – March 6, 2006) was an American novelist and educator. He wrote five adult novels, the first published in 1950, and then began writing books for children. He retired from teaching in 1965 to write full-time. His best known book is The Lemonade Trick, a children's novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 22, 2025
Such a cute little tale with amusing moments even, likeable characters, and a display of kids stepping up to do the brave and honorable things..... One I had missed during childhood but came across it now.
July 20, 2019
This is a terrific chapter book with charming illustrations and an inventive plot.
The main character is Donna: an ordinary girl with ordinary problems until a boy plays a prank on her by hiding a frog in her bag during a behind-the-scenes tour of the local zoo. The frog was to be food for one of the zoo's snakes, so when the girl returns home and discovers the poor thing in her bag, she doesn't know what she should do with it, but she certainly doesn't intend to return it to the zoo and certain death! As she hides the frog, protects it, catches grasshoppers for its food, and names it Freddie, she grows more and more fond of the pet she never expected to get, but a series of complications leads to more and more outlandish circumstances as Donna tries to keep Freddie both safe and secret.
Set in a quiet American suburb, Steady, Freddie! reminds me of Beverly Cleary's work. Scott Corbett has created an eminently relatable protagonist in Donna, who is intelligent and sympathetic but something of an under-achiever who nevertheless rises to the challenges in taking care of Freddie. And despite how peculiar Donna's situation ultimately becomes, the story is entirely believable.
The story ends with some gentle, indirectly-presented life lessons on the value and importance of honesty and taking responsibility. Throughout the book, Donna solves her problems with cleverness, knowledge, common sense, and a strong moral center. It's hard to imagine a better message than that for children.
Considering that this story is about half a century old now, it doesn't feel particularly dated aside from the use of record players and the lack of electronic gadgets.
This book deserved far more attention and appreciation than it received.
The main character is Donna: an ordinary girl with ordinary problems until a boy plays a prank on her by hiding a frog in her bag during a behind-the-scenes tour of the local zoo. The frog was to be food for one of the zoo's snakes, so when the girl returns home and discovers the poor thing in her bag, she doesn't know what she should do with it, but she certainly doesn't intend to return it to the zoo and certain death! As she hides the frog, protects it, catches grasshoppers for its food, and names it Freddie, she grows more and more fond of the pet she never expected to get, but a series of complications leads to more and more outlandish circumstances as Donna tries to keep Freddie both safe and secret.
Set in a quiet American suburb, Steady, Freddie! reminds me of Beverly Cleary's work. Scott Corbett has created an eminently relatable protagonist in Donna, who is intelligent and sympathetic but something of an under-achiever who nevertheless rises to the challenges in taking care of Freddie. And despite how peculiar Donna's situation ultimately becomes, the story is entirely believable.
The story ends with some gentle, indirectly-presented life lessons on the value and importance of honesty and taking responsibility. Throughout the book, Donna solves her problems with cleverness, knowledge, common sense, and a strong moral center. It's hard to imagine a better message than that for children.
Considering that this story is about half a century old now, it doesn't feel particularly dated aside from the use of record players and the lack of electronic gadgets.
This book deserved far more attention and appreciation than it received.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews