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The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester
An amazing secret has tumbled off a freight train into Carter, Georgia, and Owen Jester is the only person who knows about it. If he can simply manage to evade his grandfather's snappish housekeeper, organize his two best friends, and keep his nosy neighbor, Viola, at bay, he just might be in for the summer of a lifetime. With her trademark wit and easy charm, Barbara O'Connor spins a fantastic fable of friends, enemies, and superbly slimy bullfrogs.
This title has Common Core connections.
This title has Common Core connections.
176 pages
First published January 1, 2010
38 people are currently reading
1093 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 297 reviews
June 25, 2022
Owen seems like a typical boy, but he's kind of a jerk. Viola is his archenemy, a "know-it-all" who's smart enough to research the information Owen needs in his endeavors. Yet he behaves like a jerk, rather than befriending her... 🙄
Well into the book, Owen goes to a Bible study, which he "hates. " Also annoying!
Later, he needles his mother to let him skip church, and "miraculously," she agrees. ??? At this point also, Owen decides to do the right thing in one instance and the wrong thing in another instance - all in the same breath. I just don't admire this boy....
The whole anti-church thing continued to pervade. He was "pretending" to read his Bible story book. At no point does this book let up on this or show at least a tolerance or respect for people who go to church.
Ultimately, Owen corrects one bad choice, he was given a consequence - but also rewarded for - another bad choice, 😩 AND FINALLY recognized the value of Viola. Ugh. I'm going to recommend my husband delete this book from our Audible library rather than recommend it to any of our four elementary school aged children.... The plot was an original idea, but I just wouldn't want my children reading it. The interest of the story does not overcome my frustration at the messages I feel the book sends......
Well into the book, Owen goes to a Bible study, which he "hates. " Also annoying!
Later, he needles his mother to let him skip church, and "miraculously," she agrees. ??? At this point also, Owen decides to do the right thing in one instance and the wrong thing in another instance - all in the same breath. I just don't admire this boy....
The whole anti-church thing continued to pervade. He was "pretending" to read his Bible story book. At no point does this book let up on this or show at least a tolerance or respect for people who go to church.
Ultimately, Owen corrects one bad choice, he was given a consequence - but also rewarded for - another bad choice, 😩 AND FINALLY recognized the value of Viola. Ugh. I'm going to recommend my husband delete this book from our Audible library rather than recommend it to any of our four elementary school aged children.... The plot was an original idea, but I just wouldn't want my children reading it. The interest of the story does not overcome my frustration at the messages I feel the book sends......
October 26, 2010
Reviewed by Rusty Key Writer: Jordan B. Nielsen
Recommended for: Boys and Girls, ages 7 to 10. The story features a male protagonist and the sort of rambunctious summer fun that will likely be particularly relatable for boys, but a strong female character and a lack of gross-out jokes will keep girls from being alienated…unless, you know, they like that kind of thing.
One Word Summary: Buoyant
In this day and age of niche driven story telling and books ready made for filmic adaptation and merchandizing, there’s something rather bold about being simple.
A small story, the kind that harkens back to the likes of Charlotte’s Web, a time when all kids had to worry about was not tracking mud on the newly cleaned floors, ‘The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester’ neatly makes up for its lack of flash with an abundance of authenticity.
Set in Georgia, in that hazy book-time of not quite now, but not that long ago, “Owen Jester’s” eponymous main character is living with his parents in his ailing grandfather’s house. There are plenty of things that aren’t so great about this arrangement, like the housekeeper Earlene who’s always on Owen’s case, or the busy-body next door neighbor Viola, or the fact that he’s living in a house where there’s a man gradually dying in one of the upstairs bedrooms. But the house also has a pretty great upside as well; A big pond in the woods out back, full of frogs. Owen spent weeks stalking the most perfect frog of them all and finally got his hands on him, naming him Tooley Graham and keeping him in a bucket in his closet. But that’s not all Owen finds in the woods. After hearing a thunderous crash from his bedroom window one night as the train rattled by, Owen seeks out the source of the commotion and finds a two-seater, ambient pressure submarine, fallen from one of the freight cars.
With his friends Travis and Stumpy (a fantastically unexplained nickname…yes he has all his appendages.) Owen sets out to create the greatest cage ever for Tooley on the bank of the pond, and to get the submarine down to the water and take the thing for a spin. Supposedly the pond is rather deep. But obstacles abound in both of these missions, and nosy Viola just makes everything worse with her threats to tattle, insistence on being involved, and tendency to oh-so-annoyingly know everything. Top among Viola’s complaints that irk the daylights out of Owen: that Tooley looks sad in his bucket, that frogs aren’t meant to have names, or live in cages. Frogs must be free. The thought of Tooley’s unhappiness at his own hands nags at Owen as he fashions the perfect frogy home, leading to the inevitable question: Would Tooley be better off if Owen just let him go?
Perfectly capturing that delicate moment teetering between the imaginative, unbound fog of childhood and the clear-seeing, if more stark world of adulthood, ‘Owen Jester’ taps into that classic saying ‘If you love something, set it free’ without beating you over the head with it. Most of us can remember that time when it got a little harder to play make-believe, when splashing in the mud started to seem a little unpleasant, when the magic of the world started to grow a little bit dim. This book is as much an ode to those last fleeting moments as it is an exploration of the secret lives of children. But to weigh the book down with analysis would be to take away the thing that makes it so lovely: its easy, free-spirited, sense of good old-fashioned fun, the kind of adventure that can be found in your own backyard. A particularly great read-aloud book for parents and kids to enjoy together.
For more reviews from The Rusty Key, visit us at www.therustykey.com
Recommended for: Boys and Girls, ages 7 to 10. The story features a male protagonist and the sort of rambunctious summer fun that will likely be particularly relatable for boys, but a strong female character and a lack of gross-out jokes will keep girls from being alienated…unless, you know, they like that kind of thing.
One Word Summary: Buoyant
In this day and age of niche driven story telling and books ready made for filmic adaptation and merchandizing, there’s something rather bold about being simple.
A small story, the kind that harkens back to the likes of Charlotte’s Web, a time when all kids had to worry about was not tracking mud on the newly cleaned floors, ‘The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester’ neatly makes up for its lack of flash with an abundance of authenticity.
Set in Georgia, in that hazy book-time of not quite now, but not that long ago, “Owen Jester’s” eponymous main character is living with his parents in his ailing grandfather’s house. There are plenty of things that aren’t so great about this arrangement, like the housekeeper Earlene who’s always on Owen’s case, or the busy-body next door neighbor Viola, or the fact that he’s living in a house where there’s a man gradually dying in one of the upstairs bedrooms. But the house also has a pretty great upside as well; A big pond in the woods out back, full of frogs. Owen spent weeks stalking the most perfect frog of them all and finally got his hands on him, naming him Tooley Graham and keeping him in a bucket in his closet. But that’s not all Owen finds in the woods. After hearing a thunderous crash from his bedroom window one night as the train rattled by, Owen seeks out the source of the commotion and finds a two-seater, ambient pressure submarine, fallen from one of the freight cars.
With his friends Travis and Stumpy (a fantastically unexplained nickname…yes he has all his appendages.) Owen sets out to create the greatest cage ever for Tooley on the bank of the pond, and to get the submarine down to the water and take the thing for a spin. Supposedly the pond is rather deep. But obstacles abound in both of these missions, and nosy Viola just makes everything worse with her threats to tattle, insistence on being involved, and tendency to oh-so-annoyingly know everything. Top among Viola’s complaints that irk the daylights out of Owen: that Tooley looks sad in his bucket, that frogs aren’t meant to have names, or live in cages. Frogs must be free. The thought of Tooley’s unhappiness at his own hands nags at Owen as he fashions the perfect frogy home, leading to the inevitable question: Would Tooley be better off if Owen just let him go?
Perfectly capturing that delicate moment teetering between the imaginative, unbound fog of childhood and the clear-seeing, if more stark world of adulthood, ‘Owen Jester’ taps into that classic saying ‘If you love something, set it free’ without beating you over the head with it. Most of us can remember that time when it got a little harder to play make-believe, when splashing in the mud started to seem a little unpleasant, when the magic of the world started to grow a little bit dim. This book is as much an ode to those last fleeting moments as it is an exploration of the secret lives of children. But to weigh the book down with analysis would be to take away the thing that makes it so lovely: its easy, free-spirited, sense of good old-fashioned fun, the kind of adventure that can be found in your own backyard. A particularly great read-aloud book for parents and kids to enjoy together.
For more reviews from The Rusty Key, visit us at www.therustykey.com
June 27, 2022
A fun story, though I could have done without the bashing of the Christian faith.
April 18, 2011
Barbara O'Connor must have grown up in the south, because she sure writes with an old-fashioned, down-home feel.
Owen's father lost his job so his family had to move across town to live with his grandfather. Owen says there are three good things and three bad things about that situation. The three good things are a lot of land with woods and paths and sheds and a big pond, a falling-down barn full of cool old stuff, a train tracks that runs behind the woods. Kid heaven. Another good thing is that he has finally caught the biggest, greenest, slimiest bullfrog in the pond. Owen tags the frog "Tooley Graham" and is convinced Tooley is the greatest frog ever.
The three bad things? His grandfather's housekeeper is the grumpiest grump ever, his best friends Travis and Stumpy live farther away now, and Viola lives next door. Viola drives Owen crazy because she's a nosy, bossy, know-it-all. She keeps telling Owen that Tooley Graham is not happy in his cage, and that Owen needs to put him back in the pond. Not what Owen wants to hear (and another reason to dislike Viola).
One night as Owen listens to the sounds of the train coming through, he hears a new sound: Thud. Then wood cracking, then tumble, tumble, tumble, and silence. Something had fallen off the train, and Owen was determined to find it. Turns out, it was a fancy schmancy personal submarine, and Owen's new goal is to get that submarine to the pond.
Now, with a tip of my hat to Owen, here are three things I liked about this book:
1. Owen's relationship with his grandfather. Though we didn't see much of it, what we did see was meaningful, both to the reader and to Owen.
2. Owen's growth in two areas. First, he began to admit that Viola really did know a lot about a lot of things, how she could be helpful to him, and maybe even be a friend. Second, he came to a new place where he realized that what he wanted maybe didn't matter so much as what someone else wanted or needed, and was willing to do something about it.
3. Barbara O'Connor's way of taking a story that is set in the present and making it feel like it's taking place in the 1950's--and I mean that as a compliment. I suppose that's partially because of the names she chooses for her characters. Nothing trendy here, but solid names that fit comfortably in any generation. And maybe it's because she doesn't talk much about television or video games or so many of the things that consume our children today, Instead, these kids play in the barn and down by the pond, creating their own adventures free of a constant soundtrack other than that of crickets, bullfrogs, and birds. I pictured the kids in this story running around in overalls and staying outside until dark, and it wasn't until the term "PVC pipe" came up that I was reminded this wasn't historical fiction. I like that.
Three things I didn't like? I couldn't say. There weren't any. City kids may not be able to envision Owen's world, but I sure could. My grandparents' farm was the setting in my imagination, and I could almost see that little red sub floating by the old dock and hear Tooley Graham speaking his piece.
Owen's father lost his job so his family had to move across town to live with his grandfather. Owen says there are three good things and three bad things about that situation. The three good things are a lot of land with woods and paths and sheds and a big pond, a falling-down barn full of cool old stuff, a train tracks that runs behind the woods. Kid heaven. Another good thing is that he has finally caught the biggest, greenest, slimiest bullfrog in the pond. Owen tags the frog "Tooley Graham" and is convinced Tooley is the greatest frog ever.
The three bad things? His grandfather's housekeeper is the grumpiest grump ever, his best friends Travis and Stumpy live farther away now, and Viola lives next door. Viola drives Owen crazy because she's a nosy, bossy, know-it-all. She keeps telling Owen that Tooley Graham is not happy in his cage, and that Owen needs to put him back in the pond. Not what Owen wants to hear (and another reason to dislike Viola).
One night as Owen listens to the sounds of the train coming through, he hears a new sound: Thud. Then wood cracking, then tumble, tumble, tumble, and silence. Something had fallen off the train, and Owen was determined to find it. Turns out, it was a fancy schmancy personal submarine, and Owen's new goal is to get that submarine to the pond.
Now, with a tip of my hat to Owen, here are three things I liked about this book:
1. Owen's relationship with his grandfather. Though we didn't see much of it, what we did see was meaningful, both to the reader and to Owen.
2. Owen's growth in two areas. First, he began to admit that Viola really did know a lot about a lot of things, how she could be helpful to him, and maybe even be a friend. Second, he came to a new place where he realized that what he wanted maybe didn't matter so much as what someone else wanted or needed, and was willing to do something about it.
3. Barbara O'Connor's way of taking a story that is set in the present and making it feel like it's taking place in the 1950's--and I mean that as a compliment. I suppose that's partially because of the names she chooses for her characters. Nothing trendy here, but solid names that fit comfortably in any generation. And maybe it's because she doesn't talk much about television or video games or so many of the things that consume our children today, Instead, these kids play in the barn and down by the pond, creating their own adventures free of a constant soundtrack other than that of crickets, bullfrogs, and birds. I pictured the kids in this story running around in overalls and staying outside until dark, and it wasn't until the term "PVC pipe" came up that I was reminded this wasn't historical fiction. I like that.
Three things I didn't like? I couldn't say. There weren't any. City kids may not be able to envision Owen's world, but I sure could. My grandparents' farm was the setting in my imagination, and I could almost see that little red sub floating by the old dock and hear Tooley Graham speaking his piece.
September 15, 2014
Purchased as an bed time story for my son. It is a classic case of, "don't judge a book by its cover." The cover would lead you to believe that is book is full of adventure and excitement, but instead the story seems to plod through page after page with little to no progress in either plot or character development. Almost nothing happens in the entire book that you don't figure out in the first few pages. The writing is so dumbed down that even my 6 year old was rolling his eyes at certain lines. All of the characters are awful people, making it had to support any of them. We will be looking for a different author next time.
January 3, 2011
This has one of the best first lines ever: "Owen Jester tiptoed across the gleaming linoleum floor and slipped the frog into the soup." ("It's not hot", he reassured him.) And it just gets better from there.
Owen and his two buddies-in-trouble, Travis and Stumpy, are used to roaming freely in the woods and by the railroad tracks behind their houses, but when Owen's family moves in with his grandpa across town, he is now under the suspicious eye of the housekeeper, Earlene . To make matters worse, next door is Viola, a snoopy (lonely), bossy know-it-all with allergies. She keeps insisting that Tooley, Owen's recently-captured bullfrog, would rather be free. And when Owen hears a thump in the night, and tries to find whatever he is SURE fell off the passing freight train, Viola is determined to be involved. She is worse than a conscience!
This is full of classic, boyish stuff: self-serving logic, building things out of (other people's) junk, getting muddy and avoiding your adults. There's a mechanical dream-come-true and a bit of heart-string tugging over Owen's ailing grandpa and whether girls are worth some attention. I didn't love it as much as How to Steal a Dog, but it's right up there.
Owen and his two buddies-in-trouble, Travis and Stumpy, are used to roaming freely in the woods and by the railroad tracks behind their houses, but when Owen's family moves in with his grandpa across town, he is now under the suspicious eye of the housekeeper, Earlene . To make matters worse, next door is Viola, a snoopy (lonely), bossy know-it-all with allergies. She keeps insisting that Tooley, Owen's recently-captured bullfrog, would rather be free. And when Owen hears a thump in the night, and tries to find whatever he is SURE fell off the passing freight train, Viola is determined to be involved. She is worse than a conscience!
This is full of classic, boyish stuff: self-serving logic, building things out of (other people's) junk, getting muddy and avoiding your adults. There's a mechanical dream-come-true and a bit of heart-string tugging over Owen's ailing grandpa and whether girls are worth some attention. I didn't love it as much as How to Steal a Dog, but it's right up there.
October 2, 2024
Owen Jester is the main character of the story. He lives in Georgia and spends most of his summer with his two close friends. The three friends try to avoid the annoying girl next door, who is nosy and thinks she knows everything. At the same time, they are tempted to secretly explore the cause of a mysterious noise that emanated nights ago from the railroad tracks or spend time at the forbidden pond behind Owen's house.
October 17, 2021
Read to my 3rd and 4th graders.
July 21, 2011
Barbara O'Connor had been writing books for some time before The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester was published in 2010, and her stories had received favorable reviews and even some conversation regarding possible contention for Newbery honors. I decided to finally make my own acquaintance with her writing by way of this book, and I'm glad that I have done so.
The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester is a simple book, without major surprises or unexpected characters. It's just a nice story for younger readers about a boy from Carter, Georgia who happens upon a secret that will make him the envy of any kid who ever wanted to do some underwater exploring. The characters have a generally authentic feel about them, and the story is realistic as well, but somehow the overall effect comes just short of science fiction.
Owen and his friends, Stumpy (I'm guessing that's not the name he was born with!) and Travis, work hard to build a special cage for the exotic-looking frog that Owen managed to catch one day at Graham Pond. A neighbor girl, Viola, tells Own and his friends that the frog doesn't look very happy, though, and as much as Owen resents Viola for her know-it-all tendencies, he silently agrees that the frog really doesn't look content to be kept in even the special cage that Owen and his friends had custom built as its home.
Soon, however, a bigger event comes upon Owen than his debates over whether or not to keep the frog. A mysterious something falls off the train way behind his house one night, making a racket when it hits the ground that is audible as far away as Owen's bedroom, and Owen is curious as to just what could have made such a sound. He enlists the aid of Stumpy and Travis to hunt down the object, all the while trying to evade Viola so as to keep her from tagging along. When Owen eventually finds what it was that fell off of the train, it's a bigger surprise than he ever expected, and could offer him a unique perspective on Graham Pond like he will probably never have again.
There's not a whole lot for me to say about this book; it's unspectacular, but that's by design. It's a pleasant story of friendship and family that should be a great fit for young readers just moving on to longer chapter books, and the writing is nicely descriptive and frames the action and characters quite well. All in all, I would say that The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester is a good, comfortable story.
The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester is a simple book, without major surprises or unexpected characters. It's just a nice story for younger readers about a boy from Carter, Georgia who happens upon a secret that will make him the envy of any kid who ever wanted to do some underwater exploring. The characters have a generally authentic feel about them, and the story is realistic as well, but somehow the overall effect comes just short of science fiction.
Owen and his friends, Stumpy (I'm guessing that's not the name he was born with!) and Travis, work hard to build a special cage for the exotic-looking frog that Owen managed to catch one day at Graham Pond. A neighbor girl, Viola, tells Own and his friends that the frog doesn't look very happy, though, and as much as Owen resents Viola for her know-it-all tendencies, he silently agrees that the frog really doesn't look content to be kept in even the special cage that Owen and his friends had custom built as its home.
Soon, however, a bigger event comes upon Owen than his debates over whether or not to keep the frog. A mysterious something falls off the train way behind his house one night, making a racket when it hits the ground that is audible as far away as Owen's bedroom, and Owen is curious as to just what could have made such a sound. He enlists the aid of Stumpy and Travis to hunt down the object, all the while trying to evade Viola so as to keep her from tagging along. When Owen eventually finds what it was that fell off of the train, it's a bigger surprise than he ever expected, and could offer him a unique perspective on Graham Pond like he will probably never have again.
There's not a whole lot for me to say about this book; it's unspectacular, but that's by design. It's a pleasant story of friendship and family that should be a great fit for young readers just moving on to longer chapter books, and the writing is nicely descriptive and frames the action and characters quite well. All in all, I would say that The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester is a good, comfortable story.
February 21, 2011
Just as she did in the Small Adventures of Popeye and Elvis, O’Connor has set her story in the summertime in the south, where the days are long and the possibility for adventure just around the bend. (There's not even a hint of a video game or TV in this book.) Owen has already caught himself “the biggest, greenest, slimiest, most beautiful bullfrog ever to be seen in Carter, Georgia”, but he soon finds it’s not so easy to keep a captive bullfrog happy. Something else keeps tugging at Owen’s conscience, though. One night he heard a mysterious sound as a train traveled through town. He is certain something big fell off that train, but what? Owen and his 2 best friends are determined to investigate, but that persistent, nosy, know-it-all Viola from next door is always popping up and getting in their way. What the boys ultimately find really does yield quite an adventure and Viola’s knowledge becomes an essential part in making it happen.
O’Connor absolutely knows how to capture the feelings and relationships of childhood.
O’Connor absolutely knows how to capture the feelings and relationships of childhood.
September 18, 2010
A pleasant enough read but largely forgettable, that seemingly takes place in a bygone era (though the actual point in time is not specified). The "fantastic secret" is a bit of a misnomer; the secret is hardly a secret if so many of the characters know of it, and it's only mildly fantastic. There's a high level of repetition in this book as well, which might be helpful to a young reader. Some of the character development was limited; we learn little about Travis and Stumpy, Owen's friends along for most of the short book's ride. This is a quick, generally harmless read, though, and is buoyed by the storyline of Owen's realization that a bullfrog is not meant to be kept as a house pet or even in a cage in a pond.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2015
The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester
Intermediate Chapter Book (Read Aloud)
This Golden Sower nominee will tap in to Jack’s interest in animals and science. The storyline describes smaller everyday adventures, such as capturing a frog and building a cage, as it builds to the main adventure of exploring a pond in a submarine. The simple plot and short chapters make for a quick bedtime read aloud.
Hook: Is it stealing if you find something that someone accidentally dropped? Owen Jester has found a contraption that will allow him to take amazing adventures, but he must keep it a secret if he doesn’t want it taken away.
Intermediate Chapter Book (Read Aloud)
This Golden Sower nominee will tap in to Jack’s interest in animals and science. The storyline describes smaller everyday adventures, such as capturing a frog and building a cage, as it builds to the main adventure of exploring a pond in a submarine. The simple plot and short chapters make for a quick bedtime read aloud.
Hook: Is it stealing if you find something that someone accidentally dropped? Owen Jester has found a contraption that will allow him to take amazing adventures, but he must keep it a secret if he doesn’t want it taken away.
March 1, 2011
A great little chapter book with a tight plot! The hook in this one is the unexpected find that Owen Jester discovers after hearing the unmistakable "thud" of something falling off a passing train near his home.
He's all boy--free for the summer, exploring woods, the pond, the train tracks, and capturing the best bullfrog in Georgia. Supporting characters (including the very unnwelcome female peer, Viola) are right-on, and the adult characters, those consistent foils to Owen's plans, lend a real humor to the story. Yea!
He's all boy--free for the summer, exploring woods, the pond, the train tracks, and capturing the best bullfrog in Georgia. Supporting characters (including the very unnwelcome female peer, Viola) are right-on, and the adult characters, those consistent foils to Owen's plans, lend a real humor to the story. Yea!
August 14, 2010
One Sentence Review: Ms. O'Connor does it yet again, and this times it's a brilliant little story about changing boy/girl perceptions, stolen submarines, and what it means to set something free.
August 8, 2011
Thought this was a wonderful, sweet story with a great protagonist. Will recommend this to many elementary school kids (especially boys) in the neighborhood.Well done!
August 8, 2011
Good until preposterous end... 3.5 stars.
August 29, 2011
Rated from the point of view of my own Owen who loves frogs. A great little boy adventure book. We read it aloud driving to AZ and he didn't want to stop (saying a lot for him).
March 5, 2012
Looking forward to reading this to my class!
June 26, 2012
This book has very little to offer in the way of plot. There are some good life lessons of friendship and kindness. But overall, it is very dull.
July 21, 2012
This book was incredibly slow and repetitive. Very anticlimactic. I wouldn't say the secret was "fantastic" at all.
January 8, 2015
Didn't really enjoy this book. To childish.
January 20, 2015
Owen and his pals were just bullies and neighborhood hoodlums and they got on my nerves. I'm glad Owen at least finally starts to treat Viola better but it was too little too late.
March 28, 2015
Very fascinating.
I chose this rating because it's just a great book with a happy ending and that is all you need. I would recommend this book to people of all ages.
I chose this rating because it's just a great book with a happy ending and that is all you need. I would recommend this book to people of all ages.
January 18, 2017
A great read-aloud!
March 26, 2012
Good for ES. I think boys and girls will like this one.
April 29, 2018
This is a quiet story that focuses on friendship, getting along with others, and a small mystery.
Chapter book, fiction
Interest level: grades 3-5
YHBA nominee
4 out of 5 stars
Owen Jester is the main character in this story, and he inhabits a fairly small, contained world. He lives in Carter, Georgia, and spends most of his time with his two close friends, Travis and Stumpy. The three friends try to avoid the annoying girl next door, Viola, who thinks she knows everything. The characters in the story are written in a way that is real and genuine. I couldn't help but root for Owen Jester.
Owen and his friends spend time at the pond behind their house, exploring the railroad tracks, and hanging out in the hay loft of Owen's barn. They aren't supposed to be going to any of those places, but the lure for the boys is stronger than the fear of getting in trouble.
One night, as Owen lies in bed, he listens to the steady sound of the train that passes each night. Except on this night, Owen hears other sounds...a thud, the crack of wood, and a tumble, tumble, tumble sound. The plot of the story has Owen focusing on two things -- the giant bullfrog that Owen caught and named Tooley, and trying to figure out what the strange sound was.
There is some action as the boys search for whatever made the sounds in the night, but for the most part, the story focuses more on the schemes and plans that the boys concoct. The action is contained to a few locations and only the few main characters. There is lots going on, but in a subtle way.
This story would make a good read aloud, with lots of opportunities to discuss what motivates characters to act in certain ways, and to note the changes characters undergo throughout the story.
Chapter book, fiction
Interest level: grades 3-5
YHBA nominee
4 out of 5 stars
Owen Jester is the main character in this story, and he inhabits a fairly small, contained world. He lives in Carter, Georgia, and spends most of his time with his two close friends, Travis and Stumpy. The three friends try to avoid the annoying girl next door, Viola, who thinks she knows everything. The characters in the story are written in a way that is real and genuine. I couldn't help but root for Owen Jester.
Owen and his friends spend time at the pond behind their house, exploring the railroad tracks, and hanging out in the hay loft of Owen's barn. They aren't supposed to be going to any of those places, but the lure for the boys is stronger than the fear of getting in trouble.
One night, as Owen lies in bed, he listens to the steady sound of the train that passes each night. Except on this night, Owen hears other sounds...a thud, the crack of wood, and a tumble, tumble, tumble sound. The plot of the story has Owen focusing on two things -- the giant bullfrog that Owen caught and named Tooley, and trying to figure out what the strange sound was.
There is some action as the boys search for whatever made the sounds in the night, but for the most part, the story focuses more on the schemes and plans that the boys concoct. The action is contained to a few locations and only the few main characters. There is lots going on, but in a subtle way.
This story would make a good read aloud, with lots of opportunities to discuss what motivates characters to act in certain ways, and to note the changes characters undergo throughout the story.
May 26, 2017
Book review:Owen jesters fantastic secret by Barbara o'Connor
An amazing secret has tumbled off a freight train into Carter, Georgia, and Owen Jester is the only person who knows about it. If he can simply manage to evade his grandfather’s snappish housekeeper, organize his two best friends, and keep his nosy neighbor, Viola, at bay, he just might be in for a summer of a lifetime.
Owen Jester and his friends Travis and Stumpy are 3 adventurous kids that do not give up like when they got the submarine out of the woods and dragged through out the train tracks and into the woods.That submarine probable weighs about 2 tons.While they were trying to get the submarine out of the woods they had a pesky girl named Viola were getting in their way and eventually let her join in.
The plot of this book was to keep Tooley alive get the submarine out of the woods and be able to keep Viola and Earlene out of their business so Travis,Stumpy, and Owen can get Their jobs done.
I think the author was trying to get the readers to want to keep reading more after every chapter.I think that the book was a very good adventure book about 3 boys 1 submarine 1 frog named Tooley and 2 annoying girls that just want to ruin anybody's day.
I think that the author should keep making books about Owen jester.I think that the next book should be about catching tooley again and Viola is a part of Owen Travis and Stumpy's group so that they will all be friends.Another recommendation could be that she could make a whole different series so that more she will not have to be running out of ideas for her Owen jester series.
An amazing secret has tumbled off a freight train into Carter, Georgia, and Owen Jester is the only person who knows about it. If he can simply manage to evade his grandfather’s snappish housekeeper, organize his two best friends, and keep his nosy neighbor, Viola, at bay, he just might be in for a summer of a lifetime.
Owen Jester and his friends Travis and Stumpy are 3 adventurous kids that do not give up like when they got the submarine out of the woods and dragged through out the train tracks and into the woods.That submarine probable weighs about 2 tons.While they were trying to get the submarine out of the woods they had a pesky girl named Viola were getting in their way and eventually let her join in.
The plot of this book was to keep Tooley alive get the submarine out of the woods and be able to keep Viola and Earlene out of their business so Travis,Stumpy, and Owen can get Their jobs done.
I think the author was trying to get the readers to want to keep reading more after every chapter.I think that the book was a very good adventure book about 3 boys 1 submarine 1 frog named Tooley and 2 annoying girls that just want to ruin anybody's day.
I think that the author should keep making books about Owen jester.I think that the next book should be about catching tooley again and Viola is a part of Owen Travis and Stumpy's group so that they will all be friends.Another recommendation could be that she could make a whole different series so that more she will not have to be running out of ideas for her Owen jester series.
March 10, 2023
Plot
Owen Jester and his two best friends are spending their hot summer in Georgia like they always do. Except, Owen caught the biggest bullfrog in the pond near his house. He's got plans for the frog. The boys are going to make Tooley the perfect cage next to the dock that is partially in the water. Except, the know-it-all neighbor, Viola, keeps showing up to annoy them. According to her, frogs do not want to be named, nor do they want to be kept in cages.
One night, Owen hears the nightly train go by with the usual clatter clatter clatter. But this time there are new noises. "A thud. The crack of wood. A tumble, tumble, tumble sound." Whatever made those noises is going to consume Owen's life for the rest of the summer. Once he and his friends find what made the noise, they have to keep their plans away from Viola and his grandfather's caretaker, Earlene, because they ruin everything !
Review
This was incorrectly labeled in my school library as "fantasy," so I kept waiting for something exciting to happen! The book reminded me of an 80s movie called Explorers, and I kept hoping the submarine was some sort of spaceship. The characters are either 3rd or 5th grade; it's very unclear but they seem quite young so I am guessing 3rd grade due to insults such as "diaper head baby."
The super short book was okay. A summer adventure with a tiny submarine. I found it dragged along and I wasn't really interested in anything. I had to draw myself a map of their path leading to the sub [barn, yard, path, woods, pond, tracks, teepee fort] because it wasn't clear in my head on which side of the tracks the sub lay.
I looked up the audiobook narrator, and not only had he done several other books, he is also in Dear Evan Hansen which is coincidentally playing nearby in Seattle this week.
Owen Jester and his two best friends are spending their hot summer in Georgia like they always do. Except, Owen caught the biggest bullfrog in the pond near his house. He's got plans for the frog. The boys are going to make Tooley the perfect cage next to the dock that is partially in the water. Except, the know-it-all neighbor, Viola, keeps showing up to annoy them. According to her, frogs do not want to be named, nor do they want to be kept in cages.
One night, Owen hears the nightly train go by with the usual clatter clatter clatter. But this time there are new noises. "A thud. The crack of wood. A tumble, tumble, tumble sound." Whatever made those noises is going to consume Owen's life for the rest of the summer. Once he and his friends find what made the noise, they have to keep their plans away from Viola and his grandfather's caretaker, Earlene, because they ruin everything !
Review
This was incorrectly labeled in my school library as "fantasy," so I kept waiting for something exciting to happen! The book reminded me of an 80s movie called Explorers, and I kept hoping the submarine was some sort of spaceship. The characters are either 3rd or 5th grade; it's very unclear but they seem quite young so I am guessing 3rd grade due to insults such as "diaper head baby."
The super short book was okay. A summer adventure with a tiny submarine. I found it dragged along and I wasn't really interested in anything. I had to draw myself a map of their path leading to the sub [barn, yard, path, woods, pond, tracks, teepee fort] because it wasn't clear in my head on which side of the tracks the sub lay.
I looked up the audiobook narrator, and not only had he done several other books, he is also in Dear Evan Hansen which is coincidentally playing nearby in Seattle this week.
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