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Title details for A Tiny Piece of Sky by Shawn K. Stout - Available

A Tiny Piece of Sky

by Shawn K. Stout
Tara Sands
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
THE SUMMER STORY OF THREE SISTERS, ONE RESTUARANT, AND A (POSSIBLE) GERMAN SPY

World War II is coming in Europe. At least that’s what Frankie Baum heard on the radio. But from her small town in Maryland, in the wilting summer heat of 1939, the war is a world away.
 
Besides, there are too many other things to think about: first that Frankie’s father up and bought a restaurant without telling anyone and now she has to help in the kitchen, peeling potatoes and washing dishes, when she’d rather be racing to Wexler’s Five and Dime on her skates. Plus her favorite sister, Joanie Baloney, is away for the summer and hasn’t been answering any of Frankie’s letters.
 
But when some people in town start accusing her father of being a German spy, all of a sudden the war arrives at Frankie’s feet and she can think of nothing else.
 
Could the rumors be true? Frankie has to do some spying of her own to try to figure out her father’s secrets and clear his good name. What she discovers about him surprises everyone, but is nothing compared to what she discovers about the world.
 
In a heartfelt, charming, and insightful novel that is based on true events, Shawn K. Stout weaves a story about family secrets, intolerance, and coming of age that will keep readers guessing until the end.
Includes a note read by the author

 
Advance praise for A Tiny Piece of Sky:
 
“Shawn Stout's Frankie Baum is that rare creation: a character so real, so true, we don't just feel we know her—we are her. Irrepressible Frankie meets issues like prejudice and loyalty head on, in a story both highly entertaining and deeply thought-provoking. She may be #3 in her family, but she'll be #1 in the hearts of all who read this book.”—Tricia Springstubb, author of What Happened on Fox Street
“At turns hilarious, at turns heartbreaking, Shawn Stout’s story shows us the damage that a whisper campaign can do to a family and a community, and at the same time shows us, each of us, a way to find our hearts. Frankie Baum is a hero from a distant time and yet a hero for all times, the kind of hero who never gets old. I loved this book from the very beginning to the very end.”—Kathi Appelt, author of the National Book Award finalist and Newbery Honor book The Underneath
 
"Stout uses an archly chummy direct address at several points, successfully and humorously breaking up tension in this cleareyed look at bad behavior by society....Successfully warmhearted and child-centered."—Kirkus Reviews
  

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    January 19, 2016

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780147526007
      • File size: 246590 KB
      • Duration: 08:33:43

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Tara Sands offers a memorable performance with this story of three sisters, one restaurant, and a possible German spy. During the summer of 1939, things are changing. The Baum family has decided to open a restaurant, which means that youngest sister Frankie is always in the kitchen. When rumors that her father might possibly be a German spy start to circulate, Frankie knows she has to investigate and uncover the truth. Sands deftly portrays spunky Frankie, thoughtful older sister Elizabeth, and energetic middle sister Joan. She ensures that the sisters' relationship--full of love and occasional frustrations--rings true. She also handles the supporting cast with ease, creating lively and engaging characters, and keeps the tension high as questions arise and tragedy abounds. S.B.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      April 4, 2016
      Colloquial omniscient narration and entertaining letters between sisters immerse readers in a spirited heroine’s mind and the complexities of 1939 small-town life. Ten-year-old Frankie Baum hates being a “Number Three”: her oldest sister, Elizabeth, can do no wrong, while Frankie’s middle sister and best friend, Joan, gets to spend the summer on their aunt’s farm. Meanwhile, Frankie is stuck working in the kitchen at her father’s new restaurant. Voice actress Sands does an excellent job with Frankie, bringing just the right combination of childlike innocence and youngest-sibling outrage to flesh out the character. She inhabits the other characters with conviction, including the imperious oldest sister, nervous mother, and wise father, as well as various townspeople, such as the scheming mayoral candidate Mr. Price. The performance is strong, and listeners will be cheering for Frankie throughout. As an added bonus, the author reads a touching afterword in which she describes the genesis of the novel, which was inspired by her own grandparents. Ages 9–12. A Philomel hardcover.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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