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Grey Cloud
Tom resents his family's move to the country until he meets a strange, quiet boy who raises racing pigeons.
124 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 7, 2020
“Coming of Country Age”
Resentful for leaving his city friends and fast-paced lifestyle after moving to the boonies Tom finds a wounded pigeon along the road. His father helps the bird recover, and eventually they learn that it may belong to a fatherless boy living at a rundown farm. There Tom meets Orville--a reticent local boy who lives at the end of their bus route. Morose and solitary Orville refuses to socialize with his peers—preferring to mumble about Chores. Doing a man’s job one wonders when he finds time or inclination to do homework.
Soon Tom learns about pigeon care and racing, plus basic farm work, as he develops a fondness for Grey Cloud, whom he has cone to consider “his” pigeon. He is impressed that underage Orville can handle the family truck with ease. Their mutual goal is that their pigeons will do well in an upcoming race, for which they train daily.
Despite the simplistic syntax this story unfolds with hints of multiple ominous forebodings, so that undercurrents of tension gradually result in readers’ dis-ease. Repeated ugly incidents with the bus bullies cause Tom to feel socially trapped. When he shoots off his mouth to put them down events spiral into a double disaster. Readers unfamiliar with pigeon racing will learn a lot, as Tom comes of country age. But must he confess the Whole truth re his rash behavior to friendless Orville? For kids 12 and up--and adults of all ages.
Jan. 5, 2020
Resentful for leaving his city friends and fast-paced lifestyle after moving to the boonies Tom finds a wounded pigeon along the road. His father helps the bird recover, and eventually they learn that it may belong to a fatherless boy living at a rundown farm. There Tom meets Orville--a reticent local boy who lives at the end of their bus route. Morose and solitary Orville refuses to socialize with his peers—preferring to mumble about Chores. Doing a man’s job one wonders when he finds time or inclination to do homework.
Soon Tom learns about pigeon care and racing, plus basic farm work, as he develops a fondness for Grey Cloud, whom he has cone to consider “his” pigeon. He is impressed that underage Orville can handle the family truck with ease. Their mutual goal is that their pigeons will do well in an upcoming race, for which they train daily.
Despite the simplistic syntax this story unfolds with hints of multiple ominous forebodings, so that undercurrents of tension gradually result in readers’ dis-ease. Repeated ugly incidents with the bus bullies cause Tom to feel socially trapped. When he shoots off his mouth to put them down events spiral into a double disaster. Readers unfamiliar with pigeon racing will learn a lot, as Tom comes of country age. But must he confess the Whole truth re his rash behavior to friendless Orville? For kids 12 and up--and adults of all ages.
Jan. 5, 2020
March 14, 2020
What a sweet story about choosing your friends, sharing a common thing, and learning hard growing up lessons.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews