Saving Wonder
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- £8.49
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- £8.49
Publisher Description
In this utterly transporting debut about the power of words, the importance of friendship, and the magic of wonder, Curly Hines must decide whether to fight to save the mountain he calls home.Having lost most of his family to coal mining accidents as a little boy, Curley Hines lives with his grandfather in the Appalachian Mountains of Wonder Gap, Kentucky. Ever since Curley can remember, Papaw has been giving him a word each week to learn and live. Papaw says words are Curley's way out of the holler, even though Curley has no intention of ever leaving.When a new coal boss takes over the local mining company, life as Curley knows it is turned upside down. Suddenly, his best friend, Jules, is interested in the coal boss's son, and worse, the mining company threatens to destroy Curley and Papaw's mountain. Now Curley faces a difficult choice. Does he use his words to speak out against Big Coal and save his mountain, or does he remain silent and save his way of life?From debut author Mary Knight comes a rich, lyrical, and utterly transporting tale about friendship, the power of words, and the difficult hurdles we must overcome for the people and places we love.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Knight delivers a strong environmental message and a language lesson in her debut novel, which stars a dauntless young hero living in an Appalachian mining town. Seventh-grader Curley Hines has seen firsthand how cruel the coal-mining industry can be. If it weren't for the mines, his parents and younger brother might still be alive. Now Curley lives with his grandfather, who educates him on the power of words, giving him new ones to learn each week; organized alphabetically, the words (like dillydally and juxtapose) and their definitions close each chapter. Papaw thinks Curley should leave the mountains someday, but Curley wants to stay close to his best friend Jules and his family's graves. When the mine changes ownership, Curley faces new crises, including the possibility of losing two things dear to his heart: his favorite tree and a mountaintop scheduled to be blasted. Readers will feel Curley's sorrow and cheer him on during his campaign to save what he loves most. Knight frankly addresses the reality of harsh changes, but Curley's spirit, moving people inside and outside the community to act, is inspirational. Ages 8 12.
