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Hawkins
Harvey Small and his friend Woody Woodruff enjoy, for one month, the services of a real English gentleman's gentleman, who helps with their lemonade stand, school skits, and the mystery of old Mrs. Mosley's ghost
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
About the author
Barbara Brooks Wallace
37 books32 followersAward-winning American children's writer. Has received, among others, the NLAPW Children's Book Award and International Youth Library "Best of the Best" for 'Claudia' (2001), as well as the William Allen White Children's Book Award for 'Peppermints in the Parlor' (1983).
Wallace was born and spent her childhood in China, but then moved to the United States. San Francisco was often a port of entry for her family, who lived in a huge, white-pillared mansion on the side of a hill, later to become the Sugar Hill Hall mansion which served as the setting for some of her most popular books. She was a UCLA graduate.
Wallace won two Edgar Allan Poe Awards from the Mystery Writers of America for 'The Twin in the Tavern' (1994) and for 'Sparrows in the Scullery' (1998). 'Cousins in The Castle' (1997 and 'Ghosts in the Gallery' (2001) were also nominated for an Edgar Award.
Wallace was born and spent her childhood in China, but then moved to the United States. San Francisco was often a port of entry for her family, who lived in a huge, white-pillared mansion on the side of a hill, later to become the Sugar Hill Hall mansion which served as the setting for some of her most popular books. She was a UCLA graduate.
Wallace won two Edgar Allan Poe Awards from the Mystery Writers of America for 'The Twin in the Tavern' (1994) and for 'Sparrows in the Scullery' (1998). 'Cousins in The Castle' (1997 and 'Ghosts in the Gallery' (2001) were also nominated for an Edgar Award.
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
December 7, 2013
The year was 1987 and I was in sixth grade browsing the classroom collection of books during free reading time when I came across this adorable tale of a ten year old boy who accidently wins the services of a butler for one month.
Years passed, the invention of the internet came along and I got to thinking about that story I'd read in my youth but could no longer remember the title. I wanted to visit that book again. A query posted on a "What's that book" community website provided the answer. Giddy with joy, I clicked over to Amazon, found a used copy and added this to my personal collection. It was fun to revisit this story again.
Published in 1977, this humorous adventure of a boy and the trouble he gets himself into is very similar to a Beverly Cleary tale.
Hawkins is a two dimensional character with his formal manner. Harvey Small is a typical little boy full of life and energy and while Hawkins is an important plot device, Harvey Small and his new butler friend have no character arcs and remain unchanged throughout this slow paced story which is why I gave it only three stars. It's a simple children's story mirroring a simpler time when boys and girls growing up in stable two-parent homes and quiet communities were expected to go outside, get dirty, and discover the world without any fear of loosing their innocence. Children of all ages will enjoy this book and maybe even a few adults too!
Years passed, the invention of the internet came along and I got to thinking about that story I'd read in my youth but could no longer remember the title. I wanted to visit that book again. A query posted on a "What's that book" community website provided the answer. Giddy with joy, I clicked over to Amazon, found a used copy and added this to my personal collection. It was fun to revisit this story again.
Published in 1977, this humorous adventure of a boy and the trouble he gets himself into is very similar to a Beverly Cleary tale.
Hawkins is a two dimensional character with his formal manner. Harvey Small is a typical little boy full of life and energy and while Hawkins is an important plot device, Harvey Small and his new butler friend have no character arcs and remain unchanged throughout this slow paced story which is why I gave it only three stars. It's a simple children's story mirroring a simpler time when boys and girls growing up in stable two-parent homes and quiet communities were expected to go outside, get dirty, and discover the world without any fear of loosing their innocence. Children of all ages will enjoy this book and maybe even a few adults too!
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review