Leeva at Last

by Sara Pennypacker (Author) Matthew Cordell (Illustrator)

Leeva at Last
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

Award-winning, bestselling author Sara Pennypacker and illustrator Matthew Cordell come together in this hilarious absurdist tale about a precocious girl who transforms her community in surprising ways.

What are people for?

That's the burning question on the mind of Leeva Spayce Thornblossom.

Fame! says Leeva's mom, the mayor of Nutsmore.

Money! says her dad, the town treasurer.

With the help of an orphaned badger, a risk-averse boy in a hazmat suit, and the town's librarians, Leeva sets off to discover her own answer--setting off a chain of events that will change Nutsmore forever.

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$9.99

Kirkus

Splendid fun.

ALA/Booklist

Pennypacker tells the story with warmth and whimsy, recalling the tone and charm of Matilda. Though stuck in comically gloomy situations, Leeva is a delight, her eccentric companions are lovable, and the writing sparkles. A terrifically funny, tender tribute to the power of perseverance, community, and kindness.

Publishers Weekly

Thoughtful Leeva Thornblossom, who's "somewhere between eight and nine," lives a life of servitude to her dreadful parents. Leeva desires to attend school, but her fame-absorbed mother, the town's mayor, and her money-obsessed father, its treasurer, forbid her from going, an act that proves the last straw. Though Leeva, raised on soap operas and periodical Nutsmore Weekly, is seldom allowed to leave her home, she sets out each day, seeking to answer the question "What are people for?" She first visits the Nutsmore library next door, where a kindly librarian and her nephew introduce the girl to the astonishing worlds of literature, friendship, and freshly baked cookies. When an opportunity to meet more new people arises, Leeva jumps at it, soon encountering hazmat-suit-wearing, risk-averse Osmund and good-natured, familially obligated Fern. Learning that her greedy parents are responsible for many of Nutsmore's financial struggles, Leeva resolves to keep her identity a secret while attempting to set things right. Strongly recalling elements of Roald Dahl's Matilda, this archly narrated satire from Pennypacker (Here in the Real World) slyly integrates potent themes such as fairness, responsibility, and trust. Characters default to white. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. Illustrator's agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary. (Mar.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Sara Pennypacker
Sara Pennypacker is a bestselling author whose title include the Clementine series (Clementine, The Talented Clementine, and Clementine's Letter), the Stuart series (Stuart's Cape and Stuart Goes to School), and the picture books Pierre in Love and Sparrow Girl. Sara lives on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts.
Martin Matje illustrated many books for children, including Harry and Lulu, Wallace Hoskins, The Boy Who Grew Down, Celeste: A Day in the Park, The Ink Drinker, and Do You Believe in Ghosts.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780063114425
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Balzer & Bray/Harperteen
Publication date
March 07, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV047000 - Juvenile Fiction | Books & Libraries
JUV013000 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | General
Library of Congress categories
Families
Family life
Girls

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