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Wonderland
From Barbara O'Connor, the beloved author of Wish, comes a big-hearted story about the meaning of friendship, the challenges of growing up, and one lovable runaway dog.
Mavis Jeeter is fearless and bold, but she has never lived in one place long enough to have a real best friend. Her flighty mother has uprooted them again to another new home and taken a job as a housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis wants this home to be permanent--which means finding herself a best friend.
Rose Tully is a worrier who feels like she doesn't quite fit in with the other girls in her neighborhood. Her closest friend is Mr. Duffy, but he hasn't been himself since his dog died. Rose may have to break a few of her mother's many rules to help Mr. Duffy--and find someone who really understands her.
Henry has run away from home, but he craves kindness and comfort--and doesn't know where to look for them.
When Mavis and Rose hatch a scheme to find Mr. Duffy a new dog, their lives and Henry's intersect--and they all come to find friendship in places they never expected.
Mavis Jeeter is fearless and bold, but she has never lived in one place long enough to have a real best friend. Her flighty mother has uprooted them again to another new home and taken a job as a housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis wants this home to be permanent--which means finding herself a best friend.
Rose Tully is a worrier who feels like she doesn't quite fit in with the other girls in her neighborhood. Her closest friend is Mr. Duffy, but he hasn't been himself since his dog died. Rose may have to break a few of her mother's many rules to help Mr. Duffy--and find someone who really understands her.
Henry has run away from home, but he craves kindness and comfort--and doesn't know where to look for them.
When Mavis and Rose hatch a scheme to find Mr. Duffy a new dog, their lives and Henry's intersect--and they all come to find friendship in places they never expected.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 28, 2018
276 people are currently reading
1840 people want to read
About the author
Barbara O'Connor
55 books661 followersBarbara O'Connor's awards include the Parents Choice Gold and Silver Award, American Library Association Notable Books, IRA Notable Books for a Global Society, School Library Journal Best Books, and Kirkus Best Books. Her books have been nominated for children's choice awards in 38 states and voted as a state favorite by children in South Carolina, Indiana, Kansas, and South Dakota.
Barbara was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. She draws on her Southern roots to write award-winning books for children in grades 3 to 6.
She currently lives in Asheville, NC. Her latest book is Wish, a middle grade novel published by FSG.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/barbar...
Barbara was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. She draws on her Southern roots to write award-winning books for children in grades 3 to 6.
She currently lives in Asheville, NC. Her latest book is Wish, a middle grade novel published by FSG.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/barbar...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
August 31, 2018
This was a wonderfully cute and warm-hearted read for both the intended younger audience as well as for any age across the lifespan.
From each unique character to the Southern charm writing style, it was an enjoyable and fun quick read. Additionally, along with the entertaining moments of the story, there were also suitably emotional moments that come with some of the discoveries and lessons of growing up.
This book was not the story of one main character and was instead the story of many individual characters: Mavis, Rose, Henry, and Mr Duffy. Each of these characters played such an important part within the story that it would not be the same with any one of them removed.
Overall, a very enjoyable read and I will be looking for more written by Barbara O’Connor in the future.
***Thank you to Raincoast Books for sending me an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
From each unique character to the Southern charm writing style, it was an enjoyable and fun quick read. Additionally, along with the entertaining moments of the story, there were also suitably emotional moments that come with some of the discoveries and lessons of growing up.
This book was not the story of one main character and was instead the story of many individual characters: Mavis, Rose, Henry, and Mr Duffy. Each of these characters played such an important part within the story that it would not be the same with any one of them removed.
Overall, a very enjoyable read and I will be looking for more written by Barbara O’Connor in the future.
***Thank you to Raincoast Books for sending me an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
May 25, 2018
Wonderland is one of those books that warms your heart and tickles your toes. You will recognize Mavis and Rose in your life. They may be your daughters, your granddaughters, your nieces, your neighbors, your friends, your students or maybe even your own best friend. Each book of Barbara O'Connor's becomes my favorite of hers, and this one is right there on top.
Mavis is a girl who doesn't stay in one place for very long and is searching for a best friend. That is kind of hard to do when you move around. She meets Rose and hopes and wonders if this just might be the one. This is a book about different kinds of friendship, friends you find in unusual circumstances. And it is one you will want to read this fall!
Mavis is a girl who doesn't stay in one place for very long and is searching for a best friend. That is kind of hard to do when you move around. She meets Rose and hopes and wonders if this just might be the one. This is a book about different kinds of friendship, friends you find in unusual circumstances. And it is one you will want to read this fall!
September 9, 2018
Sweet story about friendship and finding a place to call home. Didn’t love it as much as some of Barbara O’Connor’s other books (Wish and How to Steal a Dog are my favorites!), but still a worthwhile read. Ages 9 and up.
August 11, 2018
A wonderful story about friendship from three POV-- new best friends, Rose & Mavis, and Henry, the stray dog they find in the woods. There is much to learn in this book about being a good friend and the joy of having a special animal to love. Would be a delightful classroom read aloud.
Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2018
This is a character-driven story of growth and change. A spunky girl, a sassy mom, a timid girl, an old man who's lost his gumption, and a dog who needs a home -- no one is in the right place at the beginning of the story, but by the end, everyone has found who/where they need to be. Told through three points of view, readers can empathize with both girls and the dog. Interesting contrast of lifestyles (economic diversity) might provide some window/mirror moments.
June 6, 2022
I love this author! Her books are easy to read and a fun story. I thought this book was going to end really bad but it turned out to be a happy ending!
July 26, 2024
A sweet, poignant story of two girls named Mavis and Rose who become best friends when Mavis’ mom is hired to work as a maid at Rose’s house. The girls have many adventures together, including trying to figure out how to cheer up Rose’s friend, an elderly man named Mr. Duffy. That’s how Henry (a runaway greyhound) enters the picture. I love this author’s books. Her characters and storylines are so real and moving. I highly recommend these middle-grade chapter books to kids and adults alike.
March 8, 2018
Barbara O'Connor does it again. This book has it all- humor, heart, and a magic about it that only Barbara could accomplish through her signature writing style. Young readers will quickly join in cheering Mavis and Rose on in their mission, while being gripped to the storyline, eager to see how the plot wraps itself up. A gem of a book.
September 11, 2025
Adorable middle grade novel with a profound message of friendship.
June 27, 2018
I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this middle grade fiction novel both through my #BookRelays group and NetGalley. I’ve been very excited about reading it ever since I read Barbara O’Connor’s book, Wish! I really enjoyed reading this story of friendship, people’s abilities to grow in positive ways, and the realization that people are multidimensional – no one is all good or all bad in real life.
We learn all of these awesome lessons through the story of Mavis Jeeter, Rose Tully, Mr. Duffy, and Henry. Mavis has moved many times in her life, as her mother frequently changes jobs and/or relationships. When Mavis’ mom gets a new job as a housekeeper in the Tully household, she and Mavis move into a small apartment over the family’s garage. Mavis, who has never had a best friend, quickly informs Rose Tully that they will be best friends. Rose, who has been lonesome ever since her older sister went off to college, is glad to have a new friend. But it soon becomes clear that these two girls are very different from each other.
Rose is very reserved, soft-spoken, and very reluctant to break any of the rules set by her rigid mother. Mavis is more of a free spirit who speaks her mind, often without thinking through the consequences. When the two of them try to help lonely Mr. Duffy, the gatekeeper of the upscale community where they live, by finding him a new dog to replace the beloved pet that passed away, there are a number of rules that need to be broken.
Rose learns to relax a little bit more and take risks. Mavis learns that sometimes she needs to be more patient in order to be a good best friend. Mr. Duffy and Henry, an escaped greyhound from the local dog track, also learn new lessons about trusting others and trying new things.
The character development in this story is great. Everyone learns something and becomes better for it by the end of the story. I like that the characters are multidimensional. For example, Amanda is a bit of a snooty girl and somewhat of a nemesis in the story. However, she is kindhearted enough to give food to the stray dog and is generous enough to loan her bicycle to Mavis. It concerns me a little bit that in order for Rose to prove her friendship to Mavis, she feels pressured to break her mothers’ rules. I know that kids often think rules are lame, but Rose’s mother had her rules in order to keep Rose safe – especially the rules about staying away from the woods and the busy highway outside the housing development. But this is a very real situation for middle grade readers, as they are faced with this type of peer pressure all the time. This might lead to a good opportunity to discuss with young readers whether someone should have to break rules in order to be friends with someone.
This is a terrific middle school read with an engaging story. Anyone who has ever fallen in love with a stray animal will definitely be able to relate to this book. This book will be released in August and would be a good addition to classroom libraries, grades 4 and up.
We learn all of these awesome lessons through the story of Mavis Jeeter, Rose Tully, Mr. Duffy, and Henry. Mavis has moved many times in her life, as her mother frequently changes jobs and/or relationships. When Mavis’ mom gets a new job as a housekeeper in the Tully household, she and Mavis move into a small apartment over the family’s garage. Mavis, who has never had a best friend, quickly informs Rose Tully that they will be best friends. Rose, who has been lonesome ever since her older sister went off to college, is glad to have a new friend. But it soon becomes clear that these two girls are very different from each other.
Rose is very reserved, soft-spoken, and very reluctant to break any of the rules set by her rigid mother. Mavis is more of a free spirit who speaks her mind, often without thinking through the consequences. When the two of them try to help lonely Mr. Duffy, the gatekeeper of the upscale community where they live, by finding him a new dog to replace the beloved pet that passed away, there are a number of rules that need to be broken.
Rose learns to relax a little bit more and take risks. Mavis learns that sometimes she needs to be more patient in order to be a good best friend. Mr. Duffy and Henry, an escaped greyhound from the local dog track, also learn new lessons about trusting others and trying new things.
The character development in this story is great. Everyone learns something and becomes better for it by the end of the story. I like that the characters are multidimensional. For example, Amanda is a bit of a snooty girl and somewhat of a nemesis in the story. However, she is kindhearted enough to give food to the stray dog and is generous enough to loan her bicycle to Mavis. It concerns me a little bit that in order for Rose to prove her friendship to Mavis, she feels pressured to break her mothers’ rules. I know that kids often think rules are lame, but Rose’s mother had her rules in order to keep Rose safe – especially the rules about staying away from the woods and the busy highway outside the housing development. But this is a very real situation for middle grade readers, as they are faced with this type of peer pressure all the time. This might lead to a good opportunity to discuss with young readers whether someone should have to break rules in order to be friends with someone.
This is a terrific middle school read with an engaging story. Anyone who has ever fallen in love with a stray animal will definitely be able to relate to this book. This book will be released in August and would be a good addition to classroom libraries, grades 4 and up.
July 7, 2018
Barbara O'Connor truly is the queen of middle grade fiction. Everyone knows what it feels like to long to belong to someone, and Barbara adeptly portrays that feeling in four different ways. You're bound to fall in love with Rose, Mavis, Mr. Duffy and Henry the greyhound. Pre-order this gem that comes out on August 28, 2018.
December 15, 2021
I checked Wonderland out because it was raved about on Read Aloud Revival. But I was decidedly underwhelmed. The characters feel flat and their "development" cheap and somehow both utterly predictable as well as hard to believe. I also really disliked the portrayal of the adults in the book--they're either selfish, undependable, and unloving; snobby, demanding, and unloving; or completely detached and uninvolved. The one sympathetic adult character is utterly self-absorbed in his grief, letting down the girl who looks to him as her only friend and companion. Of course, I realize that adults aren't perfect, and in kids' books there often needs to be some separation between the kids and their parents (otherwise they'd talk to their parents about the things going on in their lives instead of trying to solve things themselves, which doesn't always work to make a fun juvenile novel). But somehow, reading about these entirely feasible parental failures is much more frustrating than reading about wicked stepmothers.
It wasn't a terrible book--I wouldn't keep my kids from reading it if they asked to read it. But neither will I put it in their path.
It wasn't a terrible book--I wouldn't keep my kids from reading it if they asked to read it. But neither will I put it in their path.
September 10, 2018
This delightful middle grade with three (actually four if you count Mr. Duffy) vivid characters, Mavis, Rose, and the dog, Henry. When Mavis moves into the garage above Rose's parents' house to be their housekeeper, Mavis and Rose form a special bound and when Rose brings Mr. Duffy's a newly widowed pet owner, the relationships take on a more meaningful connection as everyone learns to be themselves.
July 5, 2018
I adore Wonderland by Barbara O'Connor. The characters (both human and canine) are fantastic. Readers will relate to Mavis and Rose and their struggle to be best friends. The emotion and introspection is believable and will help young readers navigate the ups and downs of friendship. Henry, the stray dog who also wants a best friend, stole the show. I read the book in one sitting because I just had to find out about Henry's background and know what the future held for him! Love this book and can't wait to share it with others.
August 12, 2018
Wonderland captures true friendship over and over. Two girls from very different walks of life become friends and they seek an elusive dog to help the failing gatekeeper. Barbara O'Connor embraces childhood and the freedoms associated with it - the freedoms to dream and not let adult notions and preconceived ideas get in the way. This book is a celebration of friendship, the innocence of childhood, and the power of man's best friend.
June 8, 2018
Barbara O’Connor is a talented story writer. For fans of How to Steal a Dog and Wish...you will most certainly fall in love with this story as well. Barbara is in her groove when she is writing stories like this. This book will be sure to warn reader’s hearts come August.
March 25, 2019
My kids (ages 13, 10, 5) liked this book MUCH more than I did. It's not that I disliked the story, just that I enjoyed other Barbara O'Connor books at a 5 star level making this read feel a little meh. Overall, still a good read with plenty of discussion points (standing up for oneself, making friends, feeling connected, the value of animals in our lives and of helping others) to expound upon with kids.
March 6, 2019
Did you love the Penderwicks? Then this is the book for you.
Wonderland is good clean fun with the most adventures thing that happens is the girls cross the road without permission. Also great for the kid who worries too much. Added bonus for a sweet runaway dog named Henry.
Wonderland is good clean fun with the most adventures thing that happens is the girls cross the road without permission. Also great for the kid who worries too much. Added bonus for a sweet runaway dog named Henry.
November 1, 2018
A great middle grade story that fans of Wish and How To Steal a Dog will love. Sweet story of unlikely friendships.
August 15, 2023
Good book was slow in the begining
March 23, 2019
I loved this book! I had read Wish first and it became one of my favorite books of 2018. Then I read Wonderland, and loved the story-line, loved the characters, and also, being a dog lover, loved the ending.
I'd read it again and again and again and recommend it to anyone!
I'd read it again and again and again and recommend it to anyone!
July 16, 2018
Barbara O'Connor has done it again - written the perfect middle grade realistic fiction book. Like I've said in other reviews about her previous books, she capture childhood perfectly - the doubts, fears, triumphs, and joys. The other gift that O'Connor gives us with every book is that perfect sense of nostalgia. I just finished Daniel Pink's new book, WHEN: THE SCIENTIFIC SECRETS OF PERFECT TIMING, and he says: "Like poignancy (which O'Connors books also contain), nostalgia is a 'bittersweet but predominantly positive and fundamentally social emotion'. Thinking in the past tense offers a 'window into the intrinsic self', a portal to who we really are. It makes the present meaningful." Even if kids don't pick up on or aren't able to identify that particular tone, they'll know that what they're reading is important.
I was able to connect strongly to this story as well because my good friend recently adopted two greyhounds. They are the sweetest, gentlest creatures, so I was able to fall in love with Henry immediately!
Kids will love this book, and it is the perfect addition to any school or classroom library when it comes out next month. Great for text sets with dogs! Pair it with WISH, also by Barbara O'Connor. Other possibilities: HOW TO STEAL a DOG by Barbara O'Connor, ALMOST HOME by Joan Bauer, BECAUSE of WINN-DIXIE by Kate DiCamillo, A HANDFUL of STARS by Cynthia Lord, LOVE THAT DOG by Sharon Creech, RAIN REIGN by Ann M. Martin, and THE HONEST TRUTH by Dan Gemeinhart (he's written a new one called GOOD DOG, which I haven't read yet but could surely belong in this text set).
I was able to connect strongly to this story as well because my good friend recently adopted two greyhounds. They are the sweetest, gentlest creatures, so I was able to fall in love with Henry immediately!
Kids will love this book, and it is the perfect addition to any school or classroom library when it comes out next month. Great for text sets with dogs! Pair it with WISH, also by Barbara O'Connor. Other possibilities: HOW TO STEAL a DOG by Barbara O'Connor, ALMOST HOME by Joan Bauer, BECAUSE of WINN-DIXIE by Kate DiCamillo, A HANDFUL of STARS by Cynthia Lord, LOVE THAT DOG by Sharon Creech, RAIN REIGN by Ann M. Martin, and THE HONEST TRUTH by Dan Gemeinhart (he's written a new one called GOOD DOG, which I haven't read yet but could surely belong in this text set).
October 23, 2018
This beautiful book pays homage to the power of friendship and belonging. I'm a reader who needs to feel an emotional connection to the characters and Barbara O'Connor delivers this in spades. All of her characters here are multidimensional and realistic. Rose and Mavis, two unlikely best friends, are characters that bring out the best in each other. I love both of them. Mr Duffy, the elderly gatekeeper, is a dear, grandfatherly character. Henry, the runaway dog, is sure to capture your heart. Even Amanda, who Rose dislikes, is shown to have many redeeming qualities. By the end of the book, I even have hope for the girls' mothers. These are the kinds of individuals that left me hoping for a sequel just so I get to visit with them again.
August 10, 2018
I am a fan of Barbara O'Connor and was delighted to get an ARC of this book at BookExpo.
O'Connor does an excellent job in Wonderland of juxtaposing the problems of a wealthy child and those of a child struggling with poverty. Mavis and Rose are unlikely friends but the way in which they help each other grow is touching. A satisfying story of friendship and overcoming one's fears.
Favorite line from the book p. 168 "You can't keep trouble from coming, but you don't have to give it a chair to sit on."
O'Connor does an excellent job in Wonderland of juxtaposing the problems of a wealthy child and those of a child struggling with poverty. Mavis and Rose are unlikely friends but the way in which they help each other grow is touching. A satisfying story of friendship and overcoming one's fears.
Favorite line from the book p. 168 "You can't keep trouble from coming, but you don't have to give it a chair to sit on."
December 26, 2019
Rounded up. I loved Wish, but this one felt formulaic.
June 19, 2018
A very special thanks to author Barbara O’Connor for sending Wonderland to my #bookexcursion group. all opinions are my own.
Mavis Jeeter and her mom never stay in one place for a long time, which makes making friends challenging. At the beginning of the story, Mavis’ mom accepts a job as a housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis desperately wants a true best friend and hopes she has found one in Rose, the Tully’s daughter. Like Mavis, Rose has never had a real best friend either. She does not like spending time with the other girls who live in Magnolia Estates like Amanda Simm, for Amanda says mean things behind parents’ backs and only cares about going to the mall. Rose would rather spend time with Mr. Duffy, the Magnolia Estates gatekeeper although since his dog’s death, Mr. Duffy is grumpy, forgetful, and very lonely.
After being introduced to Rose, assertive and daring Mavis immediately tells Rose that she is her new best friend. Worrier Rose accepts the friendship but struggles with having the confidence to be as bold as Mavis. Mavis is convinced that Mr. Duffy will be happy again if he get a new dog. So when she and Rose hear about a stray dog named Henry living in the woods, Mavis hatches a plan to catch Henry and give him to Mr. Duffy. Of course, no plan is not without its obstacles and unlike Mavis, Rose is apprehensive about everything from going into the woods to find Henry to riding bikes outside of Magnolia Estates. And every time Mr. Duffy makes a mistake and Rose hears her mother complaining, she worries that he may be fired and leave her forever.
I just loved everything about Wonderland-the setting, characters, plot, the writing, and the message. I identified a lot with Rose because I have always been a worrier and fortunately, with age, I have become more confident and brave. Rose’s friendship with Mavis was the catalyst helping her finding her own voice, and it was amazing to see Rose’s confidence grow. And I just loved Mr. Duffy and couldn’t get enough of Mr. Duffy’s sayings. There are so many but my favorite was “You can’t keep trouble from coming, but you don’t have to give it a chair to sit on.” Told from not only Mavis and Rose’s point of view, but also Henry’s, Wonderland gave me a glimpse into a dog’s perspective which is always a treat. Not to give the story away, but I truly enjoyed reading Henry’s account from beginning to end.
Pre-order now, for it releases in August 2018.
Mavis Jeeter and her mom never stay in one place for a long time, which makes making friends challenging. At the beginning of the story, Mavis’ mom accepts a job as a housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis desperately wants a true best friend and hopes she has found one in Rose, the Tully’s daughter. Like Mavis, Rose has never had a real best friend either. She does not like spending time with the other girls who live in Magnolia Estates like Amanda Simm, for Amanda says mean things behind parents’ backs and only cares about going to the mall. Rose would rather spend time with Mr. Duffy, the Magnolia Estates gatekeeper although since his dog’s death, Mr. Duffy is grumpy, forgetful, and very lonely.
After being introduced to Rose, assertive and daring Mavis immediately tells Rose that she is her new best friend. Worrier Rose accepts the friendship but struggles with having the confidence to be as bold as Mavis. Mavis is convinced that Mr. Duffy will be happy again if he get a new dog. So when she and Rose hear about a stray dog named Henry living in the woods, Mavis hatches a plan to catch Henry and give him to Mr. Duffy. Of course, no plan is not without its obstacles and unlike Mavis, Rose is apprehensive about everything from going into the woods to find Henry to riding bikes outside of Magnolia Estates. And every time Mr. Duffy makes a mistake and Rose hears her mother complaining, she worries that he may be fired and leave her forever.
I just loved everything about Wonderland-the setting, characters, plot, the writing, and the message. I identified a lot with Rose because I have always been a worrier and fortunately, with age, I have become more confident and brave. Rose’s friendship with Mavis was the catalyst helping her finding her own voice, and it was amazing to see Rose’s confidence grow. And I just loved Mr. Duffy and couldn’t get enough of Mr. Duffy’s sayings. There are so many but my favorite was “You can’t keep trouble from coming, but you don’t have to give it a chair to sit on.” Told from not only Mavis and Rose’s point of view, but also Henry’s, Wonderland gave me a glimpse into a dog’s perspective which is always a treat. Not to give the story away, but I truly enjoyed reading Henry’s account from beginning to end.
Pre-order now, for it releases in August 2018.
September 3, 2018
Like many other readers, I love the stories told by Barbara O'Connor. Not only is she a gifted storyteller that keeps readers enraptured during the entire tale she's weaving, but she creates characters that seem drawn from real life, sets them into challenging situations, and often depicts experiences that while common in real life, aren't frequently the focus of books for children. Mavis Jeeter's situation is a case in point. Much as she loves her mother, Mavis is tired of bouncing from place to place, often moving so quickly that she hardly has time to make a friend. Her mother's decision to move from Georgia to take a housekeeping position in Landry, Alabama, leaves Mavis frustrated, angry, and determined to make a best friend as quickly as possible. She finds a likely candidate in Rose Tully, the lonely daughter of the wealthy woman for whom her mother is working. Rose is obedient to her mother's wishes, but she chaffs at her rules, expectations, and her cluelessness when it comes to a possible friendship with Amanda, a neighbor with whom she has little in common. Mrs. Tully is all about rules and social conventions, and becomes increasingly annoyed by Mr. Duffy, the gatekeeper to their subdivision, while Rose considers him a friend. Mr. Duffy's going through a tough time after the death of his wife and more recently, his beloved dog Daisy. When the girls learn about a stray dog that they name Henry, Mavis concocts a plan to help Mr. Duffy become interested in life. Of course, plans often don't follow their intended path so complications ensue. This is a wonderfully told story about second, third, and fourth chances, about friendship and loyalty, and standing up for yourself as well as for others who may not be as bold as you are. I loved every word of this story and marveled at how well developed the characters are. Because Barbara O'Connor tells the story through three perspectives--those of Mavis, Rose, and Henry--readers are able to gain insight into their behaviors and understand them better. I predict that this one will be just as cherished as How to Steal a Dog and Wish, the author's earlier books. And oh, that lucky, lucky Henry! I had to smile as he savored those small joys in his new life, simple pleasures he never enjoyed as a racing greyhound.
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July 3, 2018Have you ever had to move from place to place, never staying in one city long enough to even make a best friend? Have you ever lived somewhere your whole life but just never seemed to fit in enough to have a best friend? This is Mavis and Rose. Mavis and her mom are always moving. Her mother never seems to be happy with her current dead-end job or her current dead-end boyfriend. They barely have enough money to scrape by. Rose is the opposite. She has lived in a gated community in Alabama where everyone is super rich and super snobby. Rose's only friend is Mr Duffy, the old man who runs the gatehouse. Things are about to change when Rose's mom hires Mavis' mom as a live-in housekeeper. Mavis determines right away that her and Rose will be best friends. Both of them struggle with this because they've never truly had a best friend before. They do have one common goal, to help Mr. Duffy after his dog, Queenie, died. Mr. Duffy is getting complaints from all of the residents of Magnolia Estates because he has lost his desire to be now that Queenie is gone. Can Mavis and Rose save Mr. Duffy by coming up with a plan to get him a new dog? Will Henry, the stray dog in the neighborhood woods, be the answer? Will Mr. Duffy lose his job if the plan doesn't work? Will Mavis and Rose learn what it takes to become best friends? Read this precious story of true friendship, determination, and doggy love.
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June 24, 2018
Mavis' mom is never happy with her job, so she is constantly moving them around, looking for the next best thing. Mavis desperately wants to stay in one place long enough to make a best friend. Her mom is once-again moving her to a new town so she can be a maid for a wealthy family. When Mavis finds out that her mom's new boss has a daughter named Rose, she immediately decides that Rose will be her best friend.
Rose's mom never seems to be satisfied with her. She always wants her to join activities she isn't interested in or play with neighborhood girls she doesn't like. She is aching for a best friend, just like Mavis. Mavis is everything she is not: wild, bold, and daring. Mavis breaks rules without giving them a second thought. Rose won't even walk in the grass without shoes on because her mother has convinced her she will get ringworm.
When Mavis discovers Rose is very worried about lonely old Mr. Duffy, the neighborhood gatekeeper and Rose's only friend, she hatches a plan to bring some joy back into Mr. Duffy's life. However, her plan will require Rose to break all her mother's rules. Can Rose find the confidence to finally do what she wants and help the people that mean the most to her? Find out in August when Wonderland is published.
Rose's mom never seems to be satisfied with her. She always wants her to join activities she isn't interested in or play with neighborhood girls she doesn't like. She is aching for a best friend, just like Mavis. Mavis is everything she is not: wild, bold, and daring. Mavis breaks rules without giving them a second thought. Rose won't even walk in the grass without shoes on because her mother has convinced her she will get ringworm.
When Mavis discovers Rose is very worried about lonely old Mr. Duffy, the neighborhood gatekeeper and Rose's only friend, she hatches a plan to bring some joy back into Mr. Duffy's life. However, her plan will require Rose to break all her mother's rules. Can Rose find the confidence to finally do what she wants and help the people that mean the most to her? Find out in August when Wonderland is published.
September 12, 2018
Barbara O'Connor does it again, but this time with three perspectives about friendship through the eyes of Mavis Jeeter, Rose Tully and Henry, the greyhound dog.
The two girls become on-and-off again friends after Mavis and her mother move in the room above the garage in Rose's home at Magnolia Estates in Alabama. Ms. Jeeter is the new housekeeper and Marvis hopes this time her mother will love her job so they can stay in one place long enough for her to really make a best friend.
Mavis and Rose come up with a mission to help grumpy and sad Mr. Duffy, the gate keeper to the estates. They think he'll do his job better and possibly keep it if he gets another dog to replace his beloved Queenie who died.
The mission does involve breaking some of Rose's mother's rules, but the mission also gives everyone something they've needed for a long time.
In typical O'Connor style, the characters show their southern roots, heart, and soul through their actions and speech. Mr. Duffy had many memorable lines. In this one he's reflecting on his dead wife: "Keep the coffee warm up there, Edna. I'll be joining you soon." Do yourself a favor and join the characters in their adventures that will warm your heart.
The two girls become on-and-off again friends after Mavis and her mother move in the room above the garage in Rose's home at Magnolia Estates in Alabama. Ms. Jeeter is the new housekeeper and Marvis hopes this time her mother will love her job so they can stay in one place long enough for her to really make a best friend.
Mavis and Rose come up with a mission to help grumpy and sad Mr. Duffy, the gate keeper to the estates. They think he'll do his job better and possibly keep it if he gets another dog to replace his beloved Queenie who died.
The mission does involve breaking some of Rose's mother's rules, but the mission also gives everyone something they've needed for a long time.
In typical O'Connor style, the characters show their southern roots, heart, and soul through their actions and speech. Mr. Duffy had many memorable lines. In this one he's reflecting on his dead wife: "Keep the coffee warm up there, Edna. I'll be joining you soon." Do yourself a favor and join the characters in their adventures that will warm your heart.
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