A Likely Place

by Paula Fox, Edward Ardizzone (Illustrator)

The author's first novel finds young Lewis considering running away when confronted with a plethora of adult advice, but his first taste of independence helps him feel useful. Simultaneous.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Friendship

78 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 1987

About the author

Paula Fox was an American author of novels for adults and children and two memoirs. Her novel The Slave Dancer (1973) received the Newbery Medal in 1974; and in 1978, she was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal. More recently, A Portrait of Ivan won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 2008.

A teenage marriage produced a daughter, Linda, in 1944. Given the tumultuous relationship with her own biological parents, she gave the child up for adoption. Linda Carroll, the daughter Fox gave up for adoption, is the mother of musician Courtney Love.

Fox then attended Columbia University, married the literary critic and translator Martin Greenberg, raised two sons, taught, and began to write.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lonely little boy with a very low self esteem gains confidence and self assurance with the unwitting help of a carefree babysitter and a distinguished elderly gentleman. Thanks to my Goodreads friend, Laura G., for alerting me to this book.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems light and simply whimsical or sweet, but has resonances. I'm not sure any old kid would get it, but any child who feels, like Lewis, over-protected and smothered with guidance, will likely appreciate it deeply. Fourth read over the years for me of this copy (edition that came w/ textbook set, with discussion questions) that I found at a thrift store, and I'm only now deciding to give it to a certain young family.

Btw, also 'intergenerational friendship.'

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the randomness of the experiences of the child very much like experiences I remember having as a child .I am partial to this author since childhood so I automatically love all of her books . Fun little book with interactions with adults who are very much themselves and know who they are .

[Lars Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My recent reading of Fox's fantastic "Western Wind" has prompted me to return to my quest to read all of her children's books. This short work for third graders up made me happy I did so. Surprisingly for Fox, it contains comical instances of whimsy. Miss Fitchlow, the mysterious babysitter for the novelette's main character, Lewis, reminds me of Mary Poppins, except that she doesn't order him around. Unlike his teachers and parents, she and the fascinating Mr. Madruga let the eight-year-old boy realize that he has thoughts that are just as valid and valuable as theirs are.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the type of book that speaks for itself more convincingly than I ever could. The story is subtle and untamed, unfolding like the kind of miniature drama that happens in real life. There are no big surprises in store for the reader, no suspense or danger for the book's characters to survive. The delicate balance to writing a story about "nothing" is maintained well, though, and the narrative is quite convincing in its simplicity. Most of us will be able to empathize with the struggles of Mr. Madruga and Lewis, two very different people who both feel stymied by how those in charge of them try to control the important details of their lives.

Lewis feels pushed around by his parents and his cousins, his teacher at school and even the strangers he meets on the street who don't take kindly to a running boy, a jumping boy, or pretty much any kind of young boy at all. He doesn't feel that he really has station with anyone in the world, until the day he happens upon Mr. Madruga in the park. The old man values Lewis's opinion right away; he values it enough, in fact, to ask for the boy's help in writing a letter to his own adult son, who keeps strict control over Mr. Madruga in much the way as Lewis's parents do over him. Mr. Madruga is fed up with being treated like a retired horse put out to pasture. He is discouraged from getting a job or going out socially or doing much of anything except resting quietly around the house. Mr. Madruga's first language is not English, though, and so he asks if Lewis would be willing to pen the letter to his son, honing Mr. Madruga's words as he dictates them to make the letter as honest and compelling as possible.

Nothing much will change for Lewis after he writes the letter, of course, but having someone depend on him for the completion of such an important task means a lot to him, sort of a match briefly lit in a dark room. It also gives him an example of how to take back control over one's life just by communicating one's wishes in a calm, transparent manner.

In looking back on A Likely Place, I have a feeling that I'll continue to learn more from it with the passage of time. The story is so basic and slight that it whips by very quickly, but with further ponderance on it in the future, I think that I will get even more out of this book.

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5

[John Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lewis, a precocious 10-year old boy who lives in a tenement walk-up apartment building with his strict mom and dad, is an only child. He is coming into his own stubborn personality, to the consternation of his parents, his teachers and all the adults around him. He is contemplating running away from home, struggling with “everyone telling him what he should do.” Then, two free-wheeling adults come to change his life.

This is a warm and wonderful story, a joy for an adult reader but also a charming tale that any 8-10 year old would find educational and entertaining.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars -- This bizarre little book is about 9-year-old Lewis, who can't think for himself (everyone tells him what to do) & who seemingly never makes his parents or his teacher happy. He sleeps in a hat; he hangs out with a group of 7-year-old-ish kids; he can't tell the difference between 'there' and 'their'; and he skips class, or tries to, when he forgets about class assignments, to name a few. When his parents go visit relatives in Chicago (Lewis might go next year if his grades improve or if he's more responsible), two things happen that help him gain more maturity: Mis Fitchlow, a hippy-chick, comes to babysit Lewis while his parents are gone and he meets Mr. Madruga from Barcelona in Central Park when Miss Fitchlow lets him go by himself. Fitchlow's perspective and Madruga's adventurous spirit help Lewis see the world with new eyes. This story is a bit abrupt, but I did enjoy Lewis's encounters with Miss Fitchlow and Mr. Madruga.

Favorite quote: "'Fire is sacred, my boy,' Miss Fitchlow had said. 'Like most sacred things, it tends to get easily out of hand.'"

[C.J. Milbrandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lewis has his own way of looking at the world. This is a meandering short story, very slice-of-life, shy on anything resembling plot, let alone resolution. Fox simply gives us a glimpse of a boy who doesn't quite fit in with his parents' and teachers' expectations. He cannot spell. He makes tactless remarks. He can't see the point of many conventions. Meanwhile, his parents are overprotective, his new babysitter is into yoga and yogurt, and the old man he meets in the park is in a surprisingly similar quandary. Perhaps that's the theme: the young and the old are people, too.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed certain aspects of this book, overall I just didn't get it. It felt very discombobulated in spots. It's about a boy who is always being told what to do or how is he doing. This all changes when his parents go away and leave him with a fun yogurt eating, meditating woman and he learns to go out on his own. He meets an older man who is going through the same ordeal. The two become friends and help each other. It was fine. Never read Paula Fox before. Just didn't hit the right spot for me. My rating - 2/5

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. This is a children's book, written for readers maybe third grade and up. It is not a long book. The main character is a child who at the beginning of the book has trouble coping with his world. This is not an "adventure" book, but it moves along with an active and compelling story.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story. Why? It was me as a child. I could relate. I love how, with his parents taking off to visit family, he was given a little freedom a little break. During this time, he is exposed to adults who are neurodivergent as he is.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

If ever there was a bizarre little tale that was so ripe for a little short film adaption, I’d say this would be it.

[Brittany Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story of an unlikely friendship between young and old. A reminder that all are more capable of what we think.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story about a boy meeting a Spanish man and finding a friend in an unlikely place.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

the edition i picked up is from the sixties w/discussion questions and a glossary in back (and lifted from a military base school).

i liked the story but can't imagine it being read today a new babysitter comes and when her charge a kid apparently autistic or w/aspbergers(?) says mom and dad let me go and play the babysitter agrees and goes back to her yoga. the six or eight year old boy wanders to the park and finds an old man talking to himself. the boysits on the bench next to the old man, they become friends. the next day the old man takes boy to some caves in the park (caves in a park? w/out warning signs and barricades?)the local homeless in habit. one in particular, hidden behind branches john wayne gacy, i mean, the old man, takes the boy into and they sit and talk.

and what mother in 21st century america is going to find this a good book?

anyway i liked because i was able to read it as part of the time it was written.

[Brennan Wieland · Rating 4 out of 5]

While whole time reading this I couldn't figure out who the babysitter reminded me off. After look at other reviews, I found that it was the character from Mary Poppins. That character adds a quirkiness to the book, and the old man that the boy meets also adds something extra. Throughout the book the boy is searching to find himself and finds his value in helping a man write a letter to his son. It's a touching book and a good one to read.

[Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

6th Grade Junior Great Books like this one.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward Ardizzone illustrations. Macmillan 1967 edition. Sweet little story about a boy who befriends an old Spanish shoemaker, with lots of humor and whimsy.

[Messi Andall · Rating 5 out of 5]

cuz i have book report