Not for Sale (Orca Echoes)

A warmhearted romp that might even work for older reluctant readers.

Cheerful and full of insight, the latest entry in the Orca Echoes series for reluctant readers is a real winner.

K-Gr 2--Cyrus is heartbroken when he learns that his family can no longer afford their current living arrangements and must move from his childhood home. He devises an earnest, though flawed, plan to thwart potential buyers. A few plot strands, such as the fact that Cyrus is adopted or that a new boy has the same nickname as his younger brother, offer little development to the story line, but the brothers' diverse personalities add an interesting slant. Expressive cartoon characters in black-and-white sketches accentuate the hope and love found in a caring family. Exaggerated facial expressions, including those of the family cat named Wigglechin, offer a humorous perspective. The cat's high-spirited antics, such as hangingupside down from outside the kitchen window or perching precariously from the For Sale sign in the front yard, also help to keep the tone light. VERDICT Short chapters and punchy characters make this selection a natural choice for readers moving to longer chapter books.--Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"From the intriguing opening sentence ("Ancient potatoes lurk in our bedroom closets") to the feel-good conclusion, this very brief effort appealingly captures a small slice of very funny family life. In between are tolerant, loving parents, an admirable relationship between brothers, a bizarre but humorous cat, numerous rib-tickling, full-page illustrations, and some quirky problem-solving. Perhaps the only downside is that young readers are going to be trying to figure out how to build potato-guns—they look like water pistols but shoot spud chunks—of their own. A warmhearted romp that might even work for older reluctant readers."— "Kirkus Reviews"