Morgy Makes His Move - Softcover

Lewis, Maggie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0618196803 ISBN 13: 9780618196807

Publisher: Clarion Books, 2002

Synopsis

Morgy MacDougal-MacDuff hates being the new kid in a new school in a new town in a new state. Each day brings more things to get used to, from weird Boston accents to surviving the blizzard of the century to facing Ferguson, bully extraordinaire. Gradually, though, Morgy begins to figure out life in Puckett Corner, Massachusetts, and learns that he just might fit in after all.

About this title

About the Author

Michael Chesworth has illustrated many picture books, including Rainy Day Dream. Archibald Frisby was a Reading Rainbow Feature Book.
 

Review

"When third-grader Morgy MacDougal-MacDuff moves with his parents from wide-open, laid-back California (where he had lots of friends, the playground at his school overlooked the ocean, and he played soccer) to small-town, close-knit Massachusetts (where he immediately attracts the attentions of a bully, his new school doesn't even have a playground, and everyone plays ice hockey), he obviously has some adjustments to make. Maggie Lewis captures the disoriented Morgy's bewilderment, even unto the challenges of the Massachusetts lingo and accent (what is this spa his new friend Byron invites him to come along to? and what does mar mean?), with one of the lightest touches ever encountered in a new-kid-in-town story. Her characters are recognizably and believably grounded in a particular place, but they are never stereotypes: Morgy's visiting aunt from California is flaky but also understanding and good at making friends; Byron's live-in Massachusetts aunt is small-town traditional but knows when to stretch the rules and how to accept others as they are. Gradually, Morgy becomes more comfortable in his new surroundings, finding himself part of Byron's large, friendly family, enjoying an unusual mid-blizzard Thanksgiving celebration, learning to skate, and defusing the bully (with the unwitting help of his mom-sorry, his mar). At book's end, Morgy welcomes home newborn twin sisters with big-brotherly protectiveness: "If there's anything you don't know, you can ask me. I know all about this place." A superbly realized regional novel that is nonetheless universal: second- and third-grade readers from all over will enjoy watching Morgy make his move." Horn Book

"Lewis packs a lot of action into this short novel and plenty of changes into her hero's young life. Morgy has just moved from California to Massachusetts, where he gets lost on the way home after the first day of school, is repeatedly picked on by an older bully, finds out his mother is pregnant with twins, tries to learn to play hockey, and survives a chimney fire, a blizzard, and a blackout. In between trials, he makes new friends and writes to old ones, is visited by his aunt, and helps raise money for new equipment for the school playground. This lighthearted novel is filled with incident and warmth, nicely matched in tone by Chesworth's black-and-white illustrations. Especially pleasing is the easy way the members of his family and his new friend Byron's family come together during the storm, spend Thanksgiving together on the spur of the moment, and thereafter are naturally integrated into one another's lives." Kirkus Reviews

About this edition

• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0618196803
• ISBN 13: 9780618196807
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 80
• Illustrator: Chesworth Michael