The Dollar Kids
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
When a family buys a house in a struggling town for just one dollar, they’re hoping to start over — but have they traded one set of problems for another? Twelve-year-old Lowen Grover, a budding comic-book artist, is still reeling from the shooting death of his friend Abe when he stumbles across an article about a former mill town giving away homes for just one dollar. It not only seems like the perfect escape from Flintlock and all of the awful memories associated with the city, but an opportunity for his mum to run her very own business. Fortunately, his family is willing to give it a try. But is the Dollar Program too good to be true? The homes are in horrible shape, and the locals are less than welcoming. Will Millville and the dollar house be the answer to the Grovers’ troubles? Or will they find they’ve traded one set of problems for another? From the author of Small as an Elephant and Paper Things comes a heart-tugging novel about guilt and grief, family and friendship, and, above all, community.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Jacobson (Paper Things) confronts loss and new beginnings in this potent and affirming novel. Lowen, a promising 11-year-old cartoonist, blames himself for the death of his friend Abe, who was killed in a convenience store shooting. When a former mill town offers dilapidated homes for one dollar, Lowen sees the change of address as a perfect escape from the city and his guilt, and his family pins their hopes on the move. In the new town, Lowen's British mother attempts to launch a Cornish pasty shop, and the whole family pitches in to make required repairs on their home. The narrative effectively portrays the clash between the family's big dreams and the grim reality of the house, as well as tensions and resentments between the "dollar families" and the town residents. Jacobson memorably sketches Lowen's family dynamics, particularly his complicated relationship with his older brother, and his journey offers a compelling portrait of community and rebirth. Andrews's comics panels, which appear at several key intervals in the text, offer further insight into Lowen's struggles, particularly his grief over Abe's death. Ages 10 14. , Correction: A previous version of this review misstated the protagonist's name.
