Ivy Takes Care - Hardcover

Wells, Rosemary

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763653527 ISBN 13: 9780763653521

Publisher: Candlewick, 2013

Synopsis

In a heart and humor-filled adventure by On the Blue Comet author Rosemary Wells, a girl spends a summer caring for animals in the mid-century Southwest.

Brokenhearted after her best friend leaves for the entire summer, Ivy rallies and finds herself something new and exciting to do: she hires herself out to look after people’s farm animals and pets while they’re away. So begins a summer of discovery and definition for tenderhearted but sensible Ivy, who must win over the stubborn pony Chestnut, take on the training of a puppy named Inca, and patiently court the trust of the magnificent but scarred racehorse, Andromeda. All this while tending to her own private hurts and hopes, and managing the hapless tagalong Billy Joe, who has a knack for trouble and accidents like nobody else. Celebrated writer Rosemary Wells delivers a compassionately observed and exquisitely distilled novel set in mid-century Nevada about a heroine with an exceptional gift, a heart of gold, and a budding dream for her future.

About this title

About the Author

Rosemary Wells has written and/or illustrated more than 120 books for children, including Following Grandfather, illustrated by Christopher Denise, and On the Blue Comet, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Rosemary Wells lives in upstate New York.

Jim LaMarche is the illustrator of more than twenty books for children, including Dennis Haseley’s A Story for Bear; The Carousel by Liz Rosenberg; The Rainbabies by Laura Krauss Melmed; and Albert by Donna Jo Napoli. He is the author-illustrator of The Raft. Jim LaMarche grew up in Wisconsin and now lives in California.

Reviews

Gr 3-6-Twelve-year-old Ivy Coleman's hardscrabble ranching family is just scraping by, while her friend Annie Evans's well-to-do parents can afford to send her to an expensive East Coast summer camp. Their differences never seemed that important before, but this year Ivy starts feeling inferior to Annie's camp friends. They part ways for the summer on bad terms, which inspires Ivy to buy Annie a conciliatory Tru-Friendship ring. To earn the money, she starts a pet-sitting business. Annie moves to the back of Ivy's mind as she focuses on interacting with her animal charges and her aspirations to become a veterinarian. While Ivy is unflappably responsible, her neighbor Billy Joe Butterworth often tags along and wreaks havoc at every job. Fortunately, the kindly local vet always sets things right. Ivy does, in fact, buy Annie the ring, yet they aren't able to reclaim the closeness they once had. But now Ivy has her business and the dream of becoming a vet, and she holds these things tight as Annie drifts away. Parts of the story are a touch didactic-they can read like a manual on how to care for animals. Ivy is perhaps too responsible to be believable, yet she is still immensely likable and will inspire children who are interested in veterinary care. There are quite a few highly suspenseful moments when animals are in peril, and these instances keep the pages turning. Give this one to animal lovers.-Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NYα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Sixth-grader Ivy Coleman faces a lonely summer with best friend Annie off to overnight camp. Ivy hires herself out as an animal caretaker, hoping to save the money for vet school. She cares for a pony named Chestnut, a German shepherd pup named Inca, and an aging quarter horse, Andromeda, and her confidence and determination to pursue her goals grows with each new experience. Set in rural Nevada in 1949 (Ivy’s parents are employed by a dude ranch as stable keeper and cook), Ivy is both tenderhearted toward the animals in her care and amazingly mature, especially in contrast with the ranch owner’s annoying son, Billy Joe, who ruins everything he touches. Readers will also be intrigued that the ranch’s guests are mostly temporary Nevada residents securing divorces. While too many of Ivy’s animal crises are resolved through the timely interventions of the local vet, this will be popular with animal lovers, especially those who enjoyed Jessie Haas’ Beware the Mare series. Grades 3-5, --Kay Weisman

Edition details

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0763653527
• ISBN 13: 9780763653521
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: LaMarche Jim
• Number of pages: 208