sandraagee's review
4.0
When I read the summary on the inside flap of this book, I got a warm, fuzzy, nostalgic feeling. Thankfully, this vibe was dead on for the tone of this book.
The premise is fairly basic: Boy looks forward to becoming his town's newspaper delivery boy, but the paper cancels delivery to his town just before he takes over the route. Boy - who is naturally smart and feisty - decides to fight back, slowly realizing that more is at stake than the money he would make delivering papers. Insert side plots about his small town's economic struggles after a factory closure and a shady carnival game with big prize money. Amazingly, all of these complicated plot elements come together smoothly in the end.
There's just something about the tone and the quirkiness of the characters that made me just love this story. Wil's role as his town's savior is actually very believable, since it's really his determination that gets the ball rolling that the community involved. I also appreciated the notes in the back of the book about the histories of the paper clip and newspaper delivery.
The premise is fairly basic: Boy looks forward to becoming his town's newspaper delivery boy, but the paper cancels delivery to his town just before he takes over the route. Boy - who is naturally smart and feisty - decides to fight back, slowly realizing that more is at stake than the money he would make delivering papers. Insert side plots about his small town's economic struggles after a factory closure and a shady carnival game with big prize money. Amazingly, all of these complicated plot elements come together smoothly in the end.
There's just something about the tone and the quirkiness of the characters that made me just love this story. Wil's role as his town's savior is actually very believable, since it's really his determination that gets the ball rolling that the community involved. I also appreciated the notes in the back of the book about the histories of the paper clip and newspaper delivery.
book_nut's review
Important theme: challenging da man, the life of a small community, fighting for one's rights, etc. But really, really boring.
susanbarto's review
5.0
I liked the mystery of the carnival games and how it linked to Wil a 12 year old going to take over a paper route that had been in his family since the founding of his town by his great grandfather. When the newspaper decides to stop delivery things really change and quickly. Fast, good read.
abigailbat's review
4.0
Wil David has been waiting for this his whole life - it's finally his twelfth birthday and time for him to take over the family paper route. David boys have been delivering the local paper in the small town of Steele, PA for generations. So when Wil gets the news that the paper will cease home delivery to Steele next month, he's understandably upset. Wil is determined to get the newspaper to reinstate delivery and possibly save a town that's been slowly dying ever since the local hairpin factory closed.
The story's a little bit quirky, but it's a compelling look at life in a small town. Between Wil's struggle to keep the paper arriving on Steele doormats and his uncovering of a scandal at the fair, there is plenty to keep the reader's attention. A host of eccentric characters round out this homage to Smalltown, USA.
The story's a little bit quirky, but it's a compelling look at life in a small town. Between Wil's struggle to keep the paper arriving on Steele doormats and his uncovering of a scandal at the fair, there is plenty to keep the reader's attention. A host of eccentric characters round out this homage to Smalltown, USA.
misha7094's review
2.0
The story was okay but I just had a hard time relating to a town that had no good access to media outside of it's own newspaper. I liked the characters and the main character's heart, but it's not something I'd be excited to read again and I never find myself recommending it to any of my students.
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