The Up and Down Spring - Hardcover

Hurwitz, Johanna

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0688119220 ISBN 13: 9780688119225

Publisher: William Morrow & Co, 1993

Synopsis

Staying at Bolivia's house for spring break, Bolivia, Rory, and Derek plan a fun-filled visit, but they never plan on Rory getting lost or staying an extra week. By the author of Class Clown.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

Rory, Derek, and Bolivia (The Hot & Cold Summer, 1984, etc.) are back; now the Woodside, N.J., boys are visiting Bolivia in Ithaca, N.Y., where they must adjust to her unusual household (exotic food, no TV) and her full spring-vacation agenda, including (to Rory's disgust) attending a ballet. But his biggest concern is a plane ride with Bolivia's uncle as pilot; embarrassed to admit his fear of flying, he feigns illness. Left alone, he discovers a fire in the house; his quick thinking prevents disaster, and, bolstered by his new hero-status, he's able to admit his fear. Later, he even accepts a second chance to fly, recognizing that real bravery is ``when you're afraid of something and you do it anyway.'' Once again, Hurwitz engagingly captures both ordinary and atypical experiences of these 11-year- olds. Amusing plays on names--plus interesting peripheral characters (Bolivia's archeologist parents; six-year-old neighbor Alexander Gian Carlo Cammarota)--add fun and color. Another Hurwitz winner. Illustrations not seen. (Fiction. 8-11) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 2-4-- Readers are marching through the seasons with this third offering about Rory, Derek, and Bolivia. The boys are at Bolivia's house in Ithaca for spring break. Rory tries to hide his fear of flying from the other two, pretending to be sick when Uncle Harold invites them for a spin in his small plane. But home alone, Rory discovers a potential electrical fire and summons the fire department in the nick of time. Praise for his heroism prompts him to admit his flying phobia to his friends, who then share their own fears. Hurwitz's characters are subtly drawn, and they retain the gentle qualities of earlier books. However, this is a fairly quiet story. Weak puns form the children's humor, and a possible quarrel about going to the ballet fails to ripen. Average fare. --Ruth Semrau, Lovejoy School, Allen, TX
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow & Co
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0688119220
• ISBN 13: 9780688119225
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 105
• Illustrator: Owens Gail