Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Sep 2009
160 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
Nothing ever happens in Fayette, South Carolina. That’s what Popeye thinks, anyway. His whole life, everything has just been boring, boring, boring. But things start to look up when the Jewells’ Holiday Rambler makes a wrong turn and gets stuck in the mud, trapping Elvis and his five rowdy siblings in Fayette for who knows how long. Popeye has never met anyone like Elvis Jewell. He’s so good at swearing he makes Uncle Dooley look like a harp-strumming angel, and he says “So what?” like he really means it. Then something curious comes floating down the creek—a series of boats with secret messages—and it sends Popeye and Elvis into the big world on the hunt for a small adventure.
With a healthy helping of humor and the signature Southern charm that has captivated children and critics alike, Barbara O’Connor’s newest tale is a heartwarming look at the joy that can come out of being a Royal Rule Breaker, and learning to find one’s own adventures.
"Starred Review. This small gem has the power to keep readers entranced. Ages 9-12." - Kirkus Reviews
"Interestingly offbeat characters, a clear narrative arc, and intriguing vocabulary...a satisfying read." - Booklist
"Starred Review. Save a spot on your shelves for this small adventure with a grand heart." - School Library Journal
"Starred Review. Undercurrents of poverty and dysfunction are handled with gentle humor as Popeye discovers the magic of a little adventure. Ages 8–12." - Publishers Weekly
This information about The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Barbara O'Connor has written numerous acclaimed books for children, including Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia, a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year, How to Steal a Dog, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and, most recently, Greetings from Nowhere, a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Book. She was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, and currently lives in Duxbury, Massachusetts.
The House on Biscayne Bay
by Chanel Cleeton
As death stalks a gothic mansion in Miami, the lives of two women intertwine as the past and present collide.
The Flower Sisters
by Michelle Collins Anderson
From the new Fannie Flagg of the Ozarks, a richly-woven story of family, forgiveness, and reinvention.
The Funeral Cryer by Wenyan Lu
Debut novelist Wenyan Lu brings us this witty yet profound story about one woman's midlife reawakening in contemporary rural China.
Your guide toexceptional books
BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
