Willow and Twig - Softcover

Little, Jean

4.14

288 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141306696 ISBN 13: 9780141306698

Publisher: Puffin Canada, 2001

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

Ten-year-old Willow lives with her four-year-old brother Twig. They are in the care of their mother, since neither of their fathers have stuck around to raise them. When their mother breaks her parole and takes off, they are left in the care of Maisie. Unfortunately Maisie suddenly dies, and the two find themselves alone in the city.

With no one left to look after them in the city where they were born, they are sent to live with Willow's grandmother, a writer, in her house called Stonecrop. From the rough streets of Vancouver, the children must adjust to a rural setting in Ontario, and the ways of their grandmother.

Both heartbreakingly real and honestly inspiring, the story of Willow and Twig reverberates with the realities of growing up alone and unwanted, learning to be proud of who you are and having the courage to find out where it is that you truly belong.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Beloved and award-winning author Jean Little has garnered numerous accolades for her work. Born in Taiwan to Canadian doctors who were serving as missionaries, she was legally blind from birth. Little obtained a B.A. in English Language & Literature from the University of Toronto. She went on to write 44 more works, including novels, picture books, poetry, short stories, and two autobiographical books. She has six honorary degrees and is a Member of the Order of Canada. Little lives in Guelph, Ontario, with her family.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 6-8-When their mother, Angel, takes off again, Willow Jones and her four-year-old brother, Twig, are left with a frail, near penniless, old woman who had agreed to take care of the children for a weekend. When the weekend extends to months and Maisie dies, Willow knows that she must take charge of their situation. With her insistent and encouraging inner voice called Red Mouse, she finds the help needed to leave the threatening streets of Vancouver. The packet of her mother's papers held by Maisie opens another world for the children, sparking Willow's loose-ended, half-recalled memories, and presenting her with family and friends for the first time in her life. The children fly to Ontario, where they are met by their grandmother, who lives in the rural family home with her brother and sister, plus an assortment of animals. Uncle Hum is a blind writer of children's books and the author of the "Red Mouse" stories so familiar to Willow. He responds positively to the children; Aunt Constance, however, is much less accepting. Both difficult and everyday issues are introduced: Angel's drug addiction, Twig's disabilities and how they occurred, the prejudice the children confront, making friends, finding a place in a family. The pacing of this richly textured novel allows characters to develop plausibly, quiet mysteries to unravel logically, and problems to be addressed optimistically. Relationships between adults and children are explored and evolve; motives for adult behaviors are introduced. Readers will come to know and empathize with these well-realized characters and cheer for their triumphs, both minor and great.
Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public Library
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.