(2) 4-6 Ask ten-year-old Walter Tipple to describe himself, and he would start with the perceived negatives: his slight build, pigeon-toed walk, and lazy eye. He's an easy target for the local bullies--except when he was with his older brother, Tank, former captain of the football team (and a daredevil who rode a motorcycle into church). But Tank left Harmony, Georgia, to join the army and was killed, leaving Walter despondent and friendless. That is, until a new neighbor, Posey, moves in and the two stumble across a nearly lifeless man, one Jubilation T. Fairweather, a.k.a. Banjo (because his older brothers always picked on him). This discovery leads to the beginnings of a beautiful friendship and a great adventure involving a hot-air balloon, a contest to win a Ford, and Walter driving Tank's beloved truck to save the day. With its fast pace, liberal use of Southern idioms, one bodacious adventure, and memorable characters, this book has read-aloud written all over it.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

(2) 4-6 Mavis Jeeter, whose mother moved them to Landry, Alabama, to be the Tully family's new housekeeper, introduces herself to lonely Rose Tully: "I'm Mavis. You be my best friend, okay?" Rose agrees, and together they help Mr. Duffy, a guard at Rose's gated community, overcome his own loneliness after the death of his dog. What distinguishes this heartwarming novel is its depth of characterization--small moments reveal much.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(2) 4-6 Eleven-year-old Charlie is sent to live with heretofore-unknown Aunt Bertha and Uncle Gus in western North Carolina, and she wishes--every day--to go home. The wish doesn't come true, but Charlie has a lot going for her, including neighbor friend Howard and adopted stray dog Wishbone. What in lesser hands could have turned sappy develops here as a slowly evolving character study.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(2) 4-6 In Meadville, South Carolina, Stella and best friend Gerald are constantly plagued by Stella's brother, Levi. Outside town, Arthur Mineo has homing pigeons, including one-legged Sherman who flies around town, becoming a curiosity everyone wants to catch. O'Connor brings it all together, creating a quiet adventure, then an apt conclusion; here subtlety of character and setting, rather than action, rules the roost.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2012

(2) 4-6 Owen Jester finds the best salvage ever: a submarine built for two, perfect for launching in Graham Pond. To figure out how to retrieve and navigate the sub, Owen needs help from his neighbor, the irritating, nosy, but whip-smart Viola. O'Connor downplays the drama in this quiet story, allowing Owen the time and space necessary to make his own decisions.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2010

(2) 4-6 Popeye lives with his grandmother and good-for-nothing uncle in Fayette, South Carolina. There's nothing to do and nobody to do it with--until bad-boy Elvis Jewell comes to town and suggests, "Let's have a small adventure." Popeye, convinced that excitement lies just around the corner, agrees. Never overdoing the colloquial expressions, O'Connor captures South Carolina speech patterns in her quietly paced, slice-of-life narrative.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2010

(3) 4-6 A diverse cast of characters congregates at Aggie Duncan's motel. The group includes recently widowed Aggie, who's reluctantly selling her beloved motel; Willow, whose heart is broken after her mother leaves; Loretta, on a journey to learn about her birth family; and Kirby, on his way to reform school. O'Connor weaves multiple perspectives into a nuanced portrait of a special place.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(2) 4-6 After Georgina's father leaves, her family struggles with poverty and homelessness. Desperate, Georgina convinces herself that stealing a dog to collect reward money is the answer. Tension builds as Georgina's plan unravels and she wrestles with her conscience. The main characters are realistically drawn, and O'Connor spins a touching story about an ordinary girl in unfortunate circumstances.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2007

(2) 4-6 Two women battle each other for custody of the baby left on the steps of the Foley, South Carolina, Rock of Ages Baptist Church. Only eleven-year-old Randall knows who put the baby there, and he must keep it secret in order to protect a friend. O'Connor deftly blends humor and poignancy in this subtle, boy's-eye-view of race relations and religion in a close-knit small town.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2004

(2) 4-6 Sixth-grade outcast Bird Weaver doesn't have any friends, but she has dreams: "Just one short day of fame and glory...would be fine with me." She also wants to go to Disney World. A spelling bee offers Bird "the ticket to [her] two goals in life"...plus one more--a friend. She sets her sights on Harlem Tate, first-rate speller and fellow social pariah. An idiosyncratic group of characters play out this story about friendship, family, and connection.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2003

(3) 4-6 Trailblazers series. An author's note describes the paucity of information about Leonardo's life, and O'Connor carefully indicates what is fact and what is educated guess. Details of Leonardo's personality are necessarily sketchy, but his remarkable accomplishments as artist, scientist, and inventor are clear. Well-chosen reproductions of Leonardo's paintings and notebooks provide visual reference. The back matter includes an afterword and timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(2) YA Twelve-year-old Pearl's mother leaves her with an aunt in backwoods Georgia and disappears. Pearl's emotions run a convincing gamut from anger, jealousy, and isolation to fear--fear that her mother might not return and fear that she will. In this touching, emotionally honest novel, O'Connor's gritty descriptions of the characters and scenery vividly evoke the environment as Pearl experiences it.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2001

(3) 4-6 Other biographies of Dunham exist, but this lively account brings readers up to date on the indefatigable woman, who continues to share her talent with young people through the Katherine Dunham Centers for the Arts and Humanities in East St. Louis. Clear black-and-white photographs contribute to the usefulness of the book. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(2) 4-6 Jennalee spends her days with Uncle Beau, helping out at his general store where she can count on things staying the same--unlike her chaotic life at home. Then one day kindhearted, mentally disabled Rupert Goody shows up: he's the son Beau had but never knew existed. Characters are well rounded and dynamic in this gracefully written sibling-rivalry story of a different sort.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1999