Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia

by Barbara O'Connor (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

Don't miss Barbara O'Connor's other middle-grade work--like Wish; Wonderland; How to Steal a Dog; Greetings from Nowhere; The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester; and more!

Will a spelling bee be the answer to all of Bird's problems? In this laugh-out-loud novel from Barbara O'Connor, a spunky young girl discovers that sometimes all it takes to feel famous is a little recognition from true friends.

All her life, all Bird has ever wanted is to be noticed in her small town and to get to Disney World. As it turns out, Bird just might have a chance to realize at least one of her goals because of a state spelling bee, and she might get to make a friend along the way--a boy named Harlem Tate who has just moved to Freedom. Harlem seems like a kindred spirit--someone like Bird, whom people don't usually take the time to find the good in. (Unless it's someone like Miss Delphine, who always makes Bird feel special.) But as much as Bird tries to get his attention, Harlem is not easily won over. Then Harlem agrees to be her partner in the spelling bee, and if they study hard enough, the two might just win everything Bird's always wanted.

Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia is a 2004 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year. This title has Common Core connections.

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Kirkus

Starred Review
Bird's original voice has charm, grit, and spunkiness that, combined with small town sensibilities, unique characters, and humor, spell out a winner.

ALA/Booklist

Starred Review
Finely tuned.

Hornbook

An idiosyncratic group of characters play out this touching and well-paced story about friendship, family, and connection.

Review quotes

Bird is literary kin to Scout, heroine of Harper Lee's famous To Kill a Mockingbird....as charming and fresh as ...the month of May. —Boston Globe

Barbara O'Connor
Barbara O'Connor is the author of numerous acclaimed books for children, including Me and Rupert Goody, Greetings from Nowhere and How to Steal a Dog. She has been awarded the Parents' Choice Gold and Silver Awards, the Massachusetts Book Award, and the Dolly Gray Award, among many honors. As a child, she loved dogs, salamanders, tap dancing, school, and even homework. Her favorite days were when the bookmobile came to town. She was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, and now lives in Duxbury, Massachusetts, a historic seaside village not far from Plymouth Rock.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780374400187
Lexile Measure
740
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Square Fish
Publication date
April 01, 2008
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV035000 - Juvenile Fiction | School & Education
JUV024000 - Juvenile Fiction | Lifestyles | Country Life
Library of Congress categories
Schools
Interpersonal relations
Popularity
Contests

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