Sticks and Stones
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- £8.99
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- £8.99
Publisher Description
“Inspirational and tinged with nostalgia, this will please fans.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A well-intentioned tale full of expressive scenes…heartfelt.”— School Library Journal
From New York Times bestselling author and master storyteller Patricia Polacco comes the uplifting tale of three inseparable friends who pursue their talents and stop at nothing to achieve their dreams.
Based on her own childhood memory, author Patricia Polacco shares the pivotal story of one year in elementary school. On the first day of school, she breaks out in a rash and is called “Cootie” by her classmates. It seems like the year will be a disaster for Patricia until she meets Thom and Ravenne.
Each of the friends have their own talent. Thom, with his long legs and graceful manner, loves to dance ballet earning him the name “Sissy Boy.” Ravenne makes kits and paints on fabric, but she’s shy that people call her “Her Ugliness.” Thom, Ravenne, and Patricia are bullied by their classmates causing the three friends to band together for support. For years after that fateful year, encourage each other to stay true to themselves and achieve success in their passions.
This endearing and timely story celebrates uniqueness and proves that no matter what challenges stand in your way it’s your differences that make you who you are.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Polacco (Holes in the Sky), again writing autobiographically about her youth, pays homage to a schoolmate named Thom, a gawky white boy who sports horn-rimmed glasses. After Trisha arrives at her new school in Michigan with a pink face rash, her summer pals abandon her for other friends. Thom sees her to art class, where she meets Ravanne, a girl who's interested in textile design. Then the school bully, Billy, interrupts: "Well, looky here, Sissy boy! And who's the cootie with him?" Billy never misses an opportunity to take a jab at Thom, and Trisha finds her voice defending him: "At least he isn't an overstuffed bully like you!" Thom, for his part, shows remarkable poise; when he receives only two valentines in the class valentine exchange, he grins: "What?... No valentine from Billy?" Where does Thom disappear on weekday afternoons? The school talent show reveals his secret: he's a ballet dancer, and he's marvelously talented. Polacco's pencil and wash drawings capture the full range of expressions on the children's faces, from laughter to outrage to wonder. With chapter book level depth, she follows a supportive trio of friends to a gratifying conclusion. Ages 4 8.
