Those kids from Fawn Creek

Title:

Author:

Summary:

There are twelve kids in the seventh grade at Fawn Creek Middle School. They’ve been together all their lives. And in this small factory town where everyone knows everything about everyone, that’s not necessarily a great thing. There are thirteen desks in the seventh-grade classroom. That’s because Renni Dean’s father got a promotion, and the family moved to Grand Saintlodge, the nearest big town. Renni’s desk is empty, but Renni still knows their secrets; is still pulling their strings. When Orchid Mason arrives and slips gracefully into Renni’s chair, the other seventh graders don’t know what to think. Orchid—who was born in New York City but just moved to Fawn Creek from Paris—seems to float. Her dress skims the floor. She’s wearing a flower behind her ear. Fawn Creek Middle might be small, but it has its tightly knit groups—the self-proclaimed “God Squad,” the jocks, the outsiders—just like anyplace else. Who will claim Orchid Mason? Who will save Orchid Mason? Or will Orchid Mason save them? -- Amazon.

Audience:

Ages 8-12. Greenwillow Books, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.

Grades 4-6. Greenwillow Books, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

319 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Subject Term:

City and town life -- Juvenile fiction.

Families -- Juvenile fiction.

Friendship -- Juvenile fiction.

Schools -- Juvenile fiction.

Publisher:

Greenwillow Books, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers,

Publication Date:

2022

ISBN:

9780062970350

Publication Information:

New York, NY : Greenwillow Books, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2022]

Call Number:

M KELLY

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003562157	Middle Fiction	KELLY	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

"A powerful and thought-provoking story."--Shelf Awareness (starred review)

"An emotionally resonant story about authenticity and belonging."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A raw, real exploration of belonging that's also sweetly hopeful."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Every day in Fawn Creek, Louisiana, is exactly the same--until Orchid Mason arrives. From Erin Entrada Kelly, the winner of the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, this contemporary school story set in small-town Louisiana is about friendship, family, deception, and being true to yourself and your dreams.

There are twelve kids in the seventh grade at Fawn Creek Middle School. They've been together all their lives. And in this small factory town where everyone knows everything about everyone, that's not necessarily a great thing.

There are thirteen desks in the seventh-grade classroom. That's because Renni Dean's father got a promotion, and the family moved to Grand Saintlodge, the nearest big town. Renni's desk is empty, but Renni still knows their secrets; is still pulling their strings.

When Orchid Mason arrives and slips gracefully into Renni's chair, the other seventh graders don't know what to think. Orchid--who was born in New York City but just moved to Fawn Creek from Paris--seems to float. Her dress skims the floor. She's wearing a flower behind her ear.

Fawn Creek Middle might be small, but it has its tightly knit groups--the self-proclaimed "God Squad," the jocks, the outsiders--just like anyplace else. Who will claim Orchid Mason? Who will save Orchid Mason? Or will Orchid Mason save them?

Newbery Medal and Newbery Honor winner Erin Entrada Kelly explores complex themes centered on family, friendships, and staying true to yourself. Those Kids from Fawn Creek will enchant fans of Rebecca Stead, Jerry Spinelli, and Kate DiCamillo.

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 4--7--Fawn Creek, LA, isn't the kind of town where much changes, so the seventh grade students are instantly intrigued when Orchid arrives. There's Greyson, whose interest in style makes him feel misplaced in his own family; Dorothy, who has taken to hiding behind her hair; and Janie, clinging to her ringleader best friend, Renni. Not only does Orchid have stories of living all over the world, she barely notices the small, divisive cliques that make up her new class. Her classmates begin to see possibilities that they never dreamed of, but not everyone is happy about the change. As secrets unravel and the community dance gets closer, the students start to see that maybe a shake-up is just what they need. This story features an ensemble cast, with each character's backstory revealed slowly. Fawn Creek itself also feels alive; readers will feel like they're breathing in the humid air and traipsing down familiar trails with the characters. Kelly shakes up the idealized small-town story trope by showing the realities of life in a small, poor town, and the limitations the characters face as they worry that they might never see what else the world has to offer. The premise of this novel has similarities to Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl, but Orchid and Fawn Creek may feel more authentic to readers. VERDICT While the plot itself is nothing flashy, this is a well-told, relatable novel about misfits and outsiders that will ring true with middle grade readers.--Kristin Brynsvold

Publisher's Weekly Review

In this uplifting small-town novel about friendship and identity, Newbery winner Entrada Kelly realistically captures the complex hierarchies of middle school. When new student Orchid Mason joins Venezuela-born Mr. Agosto's class one November day, the 12 seventh graders can't help but be excited--Orchid has traveled all over the world, while little changes in Fawn (aka "Yawn") Creek, Louisiana. Ignoring the small cued-white class's well-established social hierarchy and garnering disdain from local mean girls, Orchid gravitates toward introverted Dorothy, who longs to connect with her detached parents, and soft-spoken Greyson, who's struggling with his father's characterization of him as "soft." But while Orchid's stories of life in New York City and Paris enthrall her classmates, her reticence to share much about herself causes her classmates--especially those threatened by Orchid's popularity--to doubt her claims. Told by alternating narrators who each confess to feeling confined by unrealistic expectations and preconceived roles, this contemporary novel, timely in themes of self-acceptance and bullying, builds on the experiences of the author's childhood to create a raw, real exploration of belonging that's also sweetly hopeful. Occasional art by Krampien highlights the setting. Ages 8--12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (Mar.)