Wonderland by Barbara O'Connor

Wonderland 
by Barbara O'Connor 
Expected publication: August 28th 2018 

by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

288 pages

Realistic Fiction

Goodreads Summary

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.

My Thoughts

I am so happy this story brought Mavis and Rose together. Mavis is as bold as Rose is timid. She is loud, she interrupts, she says the wrong things at the wrong time and I love her! It is so fun to watch Mavis rub off on Rose who is afraid to break any rules because of her strict mother. 

I also enjoyed the relationship the two girls had with Mr. Duffy, the gate keeper of the private community. Mavis is relentless in her pursuit to help Mr. Duffy feel happy again after the death of his Beloved dog, Queenie. Through constant badgering, she tries to convince him that getting another dog will cheer him up. He is not easily swayed even after they find Henry, a stray dog, living in the nearby woods. 
Will Henry stay with Mr. Duffy?
Is Rose the best friend Mavis has been wishing for? 
Will Rose ever stand up to her overbearing mother?

The story takes the reader on twists and turns in the story until it all comes together in just the right way. I would recommend it for grades 4-5 as an independent read. It would also make a fabulous read aloud for grades 3-5. 

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