Defiance
By Valerie Hobbs
(Square Fish, Paperback, 9780312535810, 144pp.)
Publication Date: May 26, 2009
Other Editions of This Title: Hardcover
Categories: Health & Daily Living - Diseases, Social Issues - Friendship
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Eleven-year-old Toby Steiner wants to do normal things on his vacation. He wants to hike and race his bike down the hill. He wants to learn to fish out on the lake. He doesn’t want to return to the children’s hospital where his painful cancer treatment finally ended. When Toby starts spending time with Pearl, a spunky old woman who lives on a nearby farm, and Blossom, her broken-down cow, he sees all the more reason to keep the new lump on his side a secret from his parents. From Pearl he discovers the beauty of poetry, and from Blossom he just might uncover the meaning of life.
Valerie Hobbs is the author of many acclaimed books for young adults, such as Tender, Sonny’s War, included in The Horn Book’s Honor list, and Sheep (available in Summer 2009 from Square Fish). Her nexy book, Lucy in the Sky, will be available from FSG in Spring 2010. She lives in Santa Barbara, California.
“Real and poignant.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review “Beautiful and gripping . . . The victory of the human spirit shines through Defiance like the sun.”—Suzanne Fisher Staples, Newbery Honor–winning author of Shabanu “Emotionally satisfying. Hobbs, a gifted writer, does a quietly effective job of dramatizing the life-affirming power of both poetry and a cross-generational friendship.”—Booklist “The wit and wisdom of poetry give this potentially sentimental plot depth and a welcome acidity. Hobb’s dry humor is deliciously evident in Pearl’s ironic take on things.”—The Horn Book
“A poetic tale of empowerment with gentle touches of humor.”—School Library Journal “This simple, touching story offers great characterization.”—Voice of Youth Advocates “This gripping story will send fans searching for this author’s previous books.”—SIGNAL Journal “A heartwarming story of self-discovery.”—A YALSA Teen YA Galley Reader
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