Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia [Paperback]

Barbara O'Connor (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Will a spelling bee be the answer to all of Bird’s problems?

All her life, all Bird has ever wanted is to be noticed in her small town and to get to Disney World. As it turns out, Bird just might have a chance to realize at least one of her goals because of a state spelling bee, and she might get to make a friend along the way—a boy named Harlem Tate who has just moved to Freedom. Harlem seems like a kindred spirit—someone like Bird, whom people don’t usually take the time to find the good in. (Unless it’s someone like Miss Delphine, who always makes Bird feel special.) But as much as Bird tries to get his attention, Harlem is not easily won over. Then Harlem agrees to be her partner in the spelling bee, and if they study hard enough, the two might just win everything Bird’s always wanted.

In Barbara O’Connor’s funny new novel, a spunky young girl discovers that sometimes all it takes to feel famous is a little recognition from true friends.

Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia is a 2004 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-Bird's classmates make fun of her clothes, as well as of the new boy, Harlem, giving the sixth grader reason to try to make friends with him. She and her neighbor Miss Delphine take a pie over to the apartment above the tattoo parlor where he lives with Mr. Moody, who collects cans for a living. Harlem's mother has sent her son to live with his father, whom he cannot recall ever meeting, because her latest husband does not like him. Bird is unable to reach Harlem until she convinces him to be her partner in the school spelling bee. She dreams of winning a trip to Disney World and of gaining "fame and glory." Through numerous practice sessions, the two build a friendship but, unbeknownst to Bird, Harlem has poor eyesight, and during the contest he cannot see words printed on an easel. These memorable characters find ways to work through their shortcomings, use their talents, and help one another. Written in the first person, the book is down-to-earth and satisfying. Readers dealing with acceptance issues will find solace in this story of friendship.
Jean Gaffney, Dayton and Montgomery County Public Library, Miamisburg, OH
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Gr. 4-6. Not the most popular kid in sixth grade, Bird feels a kinship with Harlem, a new boy in her class who is shunned because he "looks mean and acts dumb." With the help of her kindly neighbor, Miss Delphine, Bird starts a campaign to befriend Harlem. The process begins haltingly, but Bird is triumphant when he agrees to be her partner in the school spelling bee. Bird soon learns that becoming Harlem's friend requires work and courage, but it also brings surprising revelations and unexpected payoffs. Told from Bird's point of view, the narrative unfolds in a finely tuned voice that alternates between hope and disappointment, stubbornness and vulnerability, self-awareness and kindness. This short novel beautifully portrays Bird's strongest emotions: her love for Miss Delphine and her longing for Harlem's friendship. On a practical note, O'Connor's account of the positive changes in Harlem's life that result from his getting eyeglasses may reassure some children who need glasses but are reluctant to wear them. From the author of Moon Pie and Ivy (2001) and Me and Rupert Goody (1999), this is an involving story with a small-town southern setting and a sympathetic heroine. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374400180
• ISBN-13: 978-0374400187
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #568,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #87 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Where We Live > Country Life

More About the Author

Barbara O'Connor was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. She draws on her Southern roots to write award-winning books for children in grades 3 to 6. Her awards include the Parents Choice Gold and Silver Award, American Library Association Notable Books, and IRA Notable Books for a Global Society. Her books have been nominated for children's choice awards in over 20 states and voted as a state favorite by children in South Carolina, Indiana, Kansas, and South Dakota. When Barbara isn't busy writing, she travels to schools to conduct writing workshops with young students, works in her garden, walks with her dogs, and thinks up ways to avoid cooking.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life lessons in Freedon, Georgia, October 17, 2004

By 

L. Potter (Harrodsburg, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia (Hardcover)

Harlem Tate is new to Freedom, Georgia and nobody at school seems to want to be his friend except for Burdette "Bird" Weaver. Bird doesn't have any school friends either and when she sees Harlem she thinks it is a "stroke of luck". Bird wants to make him a friend "before somebody poisons his mind with lies about" her. But before she can convince him to be her friend, she hears that the annual state spelling bee is coming up and the winners of the spelling bee will earn a trip to Disney World. To be noticed and to visit Disney World are two goals Bird wants to accomplish more than anything. Bird thinks winning the spelling bee just might be the way to realize her goals but she needs to have a partner. Can she convince Harlem to be her partner and eventually her friend? Befriending Harlem and convincing him to be her parnter is a bit harder than she anticipates. With help from Miss Delphine, Bird's next-door neighbor and best friend, Harlem agrees to be Bird's spelling bee partner. Bird may just be on her way to realizing all her dreams.
This is an endearing book, which illustrates the quiet strength and courage of a young girl who listened to herself rather than other people. A young girl saw the worth in a person even when society ridiculed and turned their back on that person. This book is a reminder to us all, no matter how young or old, that we each possess gifts of compassion, love and friendship and when we share those gifts with others we transform lives including our own.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fame and Glory for Fame and Glory, September 4, 2005

By 

Charlotte Brinegar "Charlotte" (Irvine, KY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia (Hardcover)

Burdette Weaver (Bird) is a middle schooler living in Freedom, Georgia. Her two goals are to get noticed in town and to go to Disney World.
Bird's one friend is her neighbor Delphine Reese. Miss Delphine is a lovely lady with red hair and sparkly clothes. She has moved back to Freedom to take care of her sick father. She has a way of finding good in everyone and always makes Bird feel good about herself.
Bird has met a new boy at school and decides she wants to be his friend. She know just how Harlem feels when kids make fun and throw food at him.
The school spelling bee is a chance for Bird to realize all of her goals. She asks Harlem to be her partner to help her win fame and glory and the big prize, a trip to Disney World.
You can understand how Bird feels when "thinking about how the whole world was all filled up with wanting and not one little ounce of getting."
Barbara O'Connor writes about the usual teen problems. I would recommemd this book to middle schoolers because of the similarity in the problems they face growing up. Young females will especially relate to the self-esteem issues that Bird experiences. O'Connor's clever humor keeps you laughing instead of feeling bad for the young teens.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give me one day - just one day of fame, September 19, 2005

By 

Hack Hudson (Jackson, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia (Hardcover)

Barbara O'Connor has written a thoughtful book focusing on human nature's tendency to "see and not see." O'Connor has given her main character, Bird (short for Burdette) the words and feelings many readers will immediately identify with, or feel guilty for having produced in others. Can you, as an adult remember kids in your class? Are there some for which you just can't put a name and face together? Did you look through or past them? Or, were you the kid that seemed to be transparent? This transparency is what makes Bird's blood boil. This "little bird" is never noticed except for a few crumbs of criticism that are thrown her way by the "plummed" in-group of girls with names like Misty or Jenna.

Bird defiantly sets her goal to move from a group of "one" to a group of "two". She decides to become friends with a new student who seems to be as transparent as Bird herself. Bird enlists the help of her neighbor, Miss Delphine, who in Bird's opinion is a person who can look right through the mean spirit in another and see the good. O'Connor's description of Miss Delphine carefully hints at a separateness as well. This character is not one that has been looked through but rather looked at. Her fiery red hair, blue eye shadow, shiny layered costume jewelry, and glittery clothing have more than likely made the more conservative residents in this small southern town of Freedom, GA. feel uncomfortable. A peacock among pheasants to be exact. Miss Delphine's demeanor - calm, kind, and nonjudgmental - indicates that indeed she is aware of the difficulties of "seeing" and "not seeing" others. She gently guides Bird to the realization that it is more important for a person to "see" the true individual rather than forming an opinion from a mere glimpse.

Bird does indeed achieve her goal in becoming friends with the gawky new kid, Harlem Tate. It is obvious Harlem has failed a grade or possibly two. He is very withdrawn, causing him to initially ignore Bird's pecks of friendship; however, she is relentless and soon helps Harlem discover his "broken wing". Again O'Connor asserts that what is or isn't seen is the difference. She unites this small group of characters in a comfortable nest of self-acceptance and permits them to find importance in one another, and isn't being sincerely valued by a few more important than being vaguely valued by many?