Customer Reviews

The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a third and fourth grade teacher. The librarian in our school highly recommended this book. I read it aloud to my third grade class of boys, and they were thoroughly intrigued by the book. There are several vignettes throughout the book, and each of these wonderful depections is written with breathtaking imagination. The characters and the storyline are well built. I would recommend this as an independent reading book for most fourth or fifth graders, and as a read aloud for third graders because it is written in an old-fashioned southern manner, which, in my opinion, is a bit difficult for most third graders to read fluidly by themselves.

Sassafras Springs is just a boring farming town, assumes plucky young Eben McAllister. Until one day, when his pa challenges him to find the Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs - in seven days. If he succeeds, Eben's pa will let him take the trip to Colorado that he has been dreaming of. Aunt Pretty thinks it is a bad idea at first, that Eben should stay home and mind the farm with his pa, but then she agrees because she knows how restless he is. Eben is excited to have found six wonders already - which, by the way, include a life-saving apple ead doll and a real ship in a bottle - when he finds out that a sickness is going through the Colorado town of his destination, and the trip is off. He is very disappointed until Aunt Pretty makes arrangements for him to visit St. Louis instead. Eben is back on track pursuing his goal . . . one more wonder, and he is off to the train station.

Overall, The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs is a delightful, energetic story with likable characters. The book has a well-thought-out plot. I usually like science fiction and fantasy books, so I was not sure if I would enjoy this, but The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs really surprised me. I enjoyed reading it very much. It was heart-warming in some places, and sad in others, and it was interesting to see how Eben comes to realize that even a small town like Sassafras Springs can have wonders of its own. I would recommend this book to anyone, and readers who enjoyed Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder will love this.
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Preteen, teen, and young adult book reviews and recommendations.

This meandering tale carries in it the qualities of all fine southern fiction: multidimensional characters, clear descriptions of place, and a story to carry them beyond the covers of the book. The illustrations, by Matt Phelan, are done in simple, evokative line drawings, and enrich the reader's imagination without overwhelming.

The story has enough pull for younger readers to stay interested, and is rich enough to capture older individuals as well.

This is a wonderful book for all ages. I absolutely love the wisdom, flow, perspective, and profound storytelling ability of this author. In seeking life's intrinsic treasures, what better way to question how to measure greatness, meaning, happiness, and wonder than to seek and discover these things hidden in our own back yards?

The story Ms. Birney weaves is so close to my own heart, I could almost swear that I grew up in Sassafras Springs. Though I am sad to say that my dissatisfaction growing up in the country, on the outskirts of a town with seemingly little to offer, did not allow me to realize the wonders surrounding me in my youth until I was well into adulthood. I sincerely wish a challenge similar to that of Eben's had been issued to me growing up so I could have learned at a much earlier age to appreciate what I now recognize I missed. In relation to my own childhood, the moving nature of this story made me weep.

Matt Phelan's illustrations are a wonderful compliment to this book. His drawings are completely classic and fit the story so perfectly, they remind me of Garth Williams' insight for the illustrations of the Little House series and E.B. White's enchanting tales. Though many recent books feature trendier artwork, the purity of Mr. Phelan's style is parallel to the purity of the story he brings to life with his drawings.

This book is destined to be a great classic, perhaps equal in significance to works such as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Tom Sawyer. I have already begun a second reading of this story, and I am sure I will reread it many more times during my life as well. I believe it is my favorite of all the new books I have read in the last ten years. I literally could not put it down until I had finished it, and even dropped it into the kitchen sink at one point while combining daily chores with reading. This is a meaningful story of the heart and speaks directly to the meaning of life. I recommend it for everyone.

J.H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles

I found the Booklist review to be very misleading. I bought this book because of the *starred* reviews in both Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus Reviews ... and I was not disappointed! In fact, I loved this book and thought it was the most original children's book I've read this year. Publisher's Weekly called it "a tender and captivating gem of a novel," and the Kirkus Review was equally enthusiastic. Personally, I felt awfully good after reading THE SEVEN WONDERS OF SASSAFRAS SPRINGS and look forward to sharing this book with friends of all ages

How perfect that this book was released on the cusp of summer! Readers of all ages (grown-ups, do read this book; you'll love it as much as the youngsters) will be inspired to seek out wonders in their own hometowns during the lazy days of June thru August. Ms. Birney's clever fancifulness becomes the reader's own as she takes us step by step alongside Eben in his wanderings. The author clearly loves each of her characters; and we come to care deeply about them too.

I would be remiss not to mention the wonders that are the illustrations Matt Phelan has deftly woven through the story's course. These are glorious depictions, indeed, of the book's characters and situations. The illustrator's light, simple strokes beautifully enhance the author's evocative narrative.

This is a wonder-full book.

This book takes you on a trip of discovering wonderful things around you. This is a great book for 5th graders and up. The message is awesome for all of us to remember. Everyday, we all see the wonders of the world.

This is a good, fun story of adventure. I enjoyed reading which wonders Eben might find. It's nice to be taken back to when kids could use their imagination and walk through-out their town, talking to people, discovering their environment and be safe doing so! This is a heart-warming, purposeful book.
Excellent tool for teaching!!

When I sat down and told the kids to listen to the first chapter I got some grumbling but by the middle of the first chapter they were engrossed with me and begged for another chapter! Very lively and entertaining--we had to stop and laugh several times! A pure enjoyable read and great for kids!
6****** from us!

I bought this book as a Christmas gift for our granddaughter and as I glanced through the book before wrapping it, I became engrossed. I ended up reading the entire book and smiling at every page I turned, engrossed by Eben's search for The Seven Wonders and the folklore stories that resulted. The "yarns" that are woven into this book are charmingly told and are rich in content. I was so taken with Ms. Birney's book that I have recommended it to my book club and we are going to discuss it at our next meeting. This book may be for young readers but can be enjoyed by anyone that enjoys stories containing American folklore.