Wonderland

Wonderland
Barbara O'Connor
FSG, 2018 235 pages
Grades 4-6
Realistic/Friendship

Three narrators relate the story of an unlikely friendship and the dog who cements it, as the girls band together to help an older friend. Mavis moves-again-with her mother to a posh suburban-Alabama neighborhood, where mom will serve as the housekeeper and the two will reside above the employer’s garage. Rose is the quiet and lonely homeowner's daughter who is thrilled to have a new friend in the courageous and adventurous Mavis. Henry, out third narrator, is a stray greyhound who has run away from the nearby racetrack and is living rough in the woods. Rose's only friend before Mavis was Mr. Duffy, the elderly gatekeeper of the private community, who hasn't been himself since his dog passed away. Mavis and Rose decide that if they find Mr. Duffy a new dog he will be happy again and perform his job better, getting the uppity rich folks in the gated community off his back. The girls discover Henry and the problem appears to be solved. Only, how can they get the scared dog to trust them? And even if they are able to coax Henry to meet Mr. Duffy, will the situation be fixed? Further problems develop as Rose and Mavis' moms are not getting along and it looks as if Mavis might need to move on again. Will their friendship survive?

For girls entering fifth grade friendship is of the highest importance and so it is with Mavis and Rose, who both struggle to find and keep friends for difference reasons, both of which many children will relate. This sweet and gentle story is told with compassion and sensitivity by O'Connor, who has many thoughtful middle grade novels to her credit, including last year’s Wish. The suburban southern setting is fully realized and the contrasting characters of Mavis and Rose are carefully drawn. Mavis' mother is eccentric and interesting to read, as is Mr. Duffy, whose colorful sayings made me laugh more than once. The two mothers could not be more opposite, making the relationship that the girls share that much more special and precious. It is nice to see a story with inner-generational friendships and the bond that Rose and Mr. Duffy share is a life raft to the young girl, which is why she is so desperate to help him. Dog racing is portrayed as something that is no longer viable and O'Connor demonstrates the industry's efforts to place the dogs in proper homes. Fans of realistic fiction and "problem novels" will enjoy this book. It’s a perfect summer read, a natural for dog lovers, and a great choice for anyone who's ever been in need of a friend.