From Publishers Weekly
Whitbread Award-winner Trevor's first novel for young readers is metafictional: it is a story about telling stories. Juliet, an Irish girl from County Tipperary, loves Paddy Old's tales, particularly a peculiar one about a man who has no story of his own--until a malicious piece of beef on a spit gives him one to tell. When Paddy dies, Juliet feels lost, but her grief slowly dissipates when her Grandmamma takes her on a fanciful trip from Dublin to the south of France. Along the way she tells Juliet her own unique stories (included here), and while Juliet finds an uncanny affinity with the protagonists, she still sighs, "I wish I had a story of my own." When she meets a toymaker on the beach in France, her wish begins to come true. Trevor has a wonderful knack for whimsical detail and gentle observation, and his sophisticated understanding of the powers of narrative is sheer pleasure. Ages 9-13.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Library Binding
edition.
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-Through vibrant characters and expressive language, this acclaimed author's first novel for children explores the magic of storytelling. Juliet loves listening to Paddy Old, the village storyteller in County Tipperary. The elderly man says that everyone has a story, but Juliet is worried that she doesn't. When he dies, her grandmother takes her on a trip across Great Britain to France, hoping that she can work through her grief. Stories are told along the way, which makes the journey seem shorter and helps Juliet begin to resolve her feelings. Her travel is a heroic journey of sorts. She meets a toymaker who helps her save some trout from the hotel dining room and gives Juliet something that is hers to tell. She returns home triumphant, knowing that wherever stories are, she will find them, make them her own, and share them with the next generation. She has taken up where Paddy Old left off. She has been allowed to grieve and comes to accept Paddy Old's death in her own way. The stories allow her to observe life from a safe distance and recognize parallels to her own life as she is ready. This novel is interesting enough to recommend for reluctant readers, and would make a great read-aloud.
Cheri Estes, Dorchester Road Regional Library, Charleston, SCCopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Library Binding
edition.
