SOLVED. Tween/ MG Coming of age, Fantasy. Orphan boy has magnetic abilities, his parents died in car accident with truck/ wagon carrying hay. Metal will stick to him, he controls power mostly with his hands. Gets dog, befriends girl. Read in 1990's. [s]

[Jade]

A chapter book for tween/coming of age, a boy's parents die tragically.. they were in I believe a convertible and were at a red traffic light next to a truck pulling a wagon of hay.. the hay toppled over killing both parents. I think he became a ward of the state but if I remember correctly was entrusted to his uncle.

The boy has magnetic abilities; he can make himself magnetic and metal will stick to him. He can control it and I think it's mostly his hands where he uses his power.

I think he befriends a girl, but can't remember much about her.

He gets a dog, and I think there is something special about the dog but I can't remember what. Or maybe he just thinks the dog is special..

I can't remember much about the plot. I think someone finds out about his ability and wants to kidnap him, or maybe the state finds out and tries to take him away from his uncle.. I really can't remember. But it was a good read. Funny how you remember certain things and not others.. I can even quote almost verbatim the part about his parents dying in the beginning.. "and the hay fell onto them... awful! of course, no one told 'boys name' exactly how awful it was. he was a young boy at the time..."

I'm sorry it's so vague, I'd say it's an older book. I read it in the 90's but I think it's older than that.

[Andria]

I'm pretty sure this is The Secret Life of Dilly McBean

[Kris]

Jade, I added some details to the header/topic title. You can update it by clicking the small "edit" link after the header. This only works on the full Desktop website - not the Mobile website or app. (On the Mobile website, click the "Desktop version" link at the bottom of the page.)

[Jade]

Kris wrote: "Jade, I added some details to the header/topic title. You can update it by clicking the small "edit" link after the header. This only works on the full Desktop website - not the Mobile website or a..."

Yes that is it! I'm sorry I don't know why I didn't get a notification.

Thank you!