Parents Wanted
by George Harrar
Andy Fleck searches to find the meaning of family and what it
means to both trust and be trusted. He challenges every limit that is
set —stealing, playing“mailbox baseball,”and finally by accusing his
soon-to-be father of inappropriately touching him. But reporting a
false accusation has its own consequences and now Andy must fight to
save his soon-to-be father's reputation and his own chance at having a
real family.
Beneath his wise-cracking exterior, Andy is
searching for trust and trying hard to accept the rules of family life.
The rules are challenged by his real father, who lives by a different
set of rules and shows up asking for money after getting out of prison.
Andy finds some much needed support from the supposedly mean old man of
the neighborhood, Mr. Lucinski, who helps him see that facing your
fears is better than running from them. Most of all he learns trust
from his new parents, who refuse to give up on him.
George Harrar
Author's Bio:George Harrar, a former newspaper reporter, is the author of a novel, First Tiger. The father of an adopted son, he lives in Wayland, Massachusetts.
Awards:2001 Milkweed Prize for Children's Literature
Booklist Editors Choice 2001
Young Adult Top Forty or so Fiction Titles 2001, Pennsylvania School Librarians Assn.
Best Children's Books of the Year 2002, Children's Book Committee, Bank Street College of Education Quotes:“Harrar has authentically portrayed a young teenage boy, dealing not
only with the pressures of adolescence and ADD, but also with the
challenges of fitting into his adoptive family. The plot of this piece
of realistic fiction is well developed and well paced. Andy's shifting
emotions are revealed in a poignant, but natural manner, and despite
his problems, he is an extremely likeable character. This is an
excellent selection for upper elementary and junior high
students.”——Iowa Reading Journal
“The author captures the hero's
emotional turmoil and desperate need for acceptance. Readers will
sympathize with both Andy and his adoptive parents as they seek and
eventually find mutual trust and love.” —Publishers Weekly
“George
Harrar has created a unique, memorable, and very beleivable character
[Andy Fleck] with whom young readers can identify, and from whom
adpotive parents may learn a great deal.”——National Adoption Center in
Philadelphia
"The
genius of this tale, which sandwiches wonderfully observed comic
moments between scenes that are both heart-wrenching and suspenseful,
is that the reader sees exactly how obnoxious and exasperating Andy is,
yet roots for him with his or her entire being. . . . A killer
read”——Kirkus Review
“Readers will be touched by Andy's turmoil and will cheer
for him to do well in his new home. This is an excellent choice for
those students whose lives have not always been comfortable.
Recommended.” —The Book Report
“Harrar's
fictional yet amazingly realistic journey of one boy's struggle through
the adoption system. . . . Harrar deftly takes readers inside Andy's head
as he tries to please his new foster parents while still being the one
in control. Unlike in many teen novels, the adults are likable
characters who truly care about Andy, despite his behavioral problems.
Fans of such books as The Great Gilly Hopkins are sure to gobble up
this funny and touching novel.” —VOYA
"Parents
Wanted has only been on bookstore shelves for three months, but it's
already making a deep impact.” —Boston Parents Paper
You may also be interested in this/these product(s):
Parents Wanted
Andy Fleck doesn't have much of a family. His dad has been in jail
since he was ten and his mother, poorly equipped to take care of him
and alcoholic, terminated her rights and gave him up to the state.“He's
too hard to handle,”she told them. Now he's 12 and has an opportunity
with a new family. Will they throw him out because he's too hard to
handle? more...
$ 6.95
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