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    Franny Parker
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    Franny Parker
    Unavailable
    Franny Parker
    Ebook162 pages2 hours

    Franny Parker

    By Hannah Roberts McKinnon

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    "Rings on a tree tell a story," Franny Parker tells Lucas Dunn. "They tell you about its seasons, if they've been plentiful or not." So far, the rings of Franny's life have been marked by her family, their farm, their dusty little Oklahoma town – all of it so familiar. But in the summer of her thirteenth year, the Dunns move in next door, harboring painful secrets. From the moment Franny meets Lucas, the two begin a friendship that introduces Franny to the large world beyond her barnyard fence. As their town endures one of the harshest droughts in decades, Franny learns that those in need are not just those others you hear about in church or school; they can be injured wildlife or even the family next door. When her own family suffers a loss, Franny must find the courage to look beyond her sadness to aid a friend in need.

    This tender, beautifully written debut novel is the story of a summer full of promises and pain, a season that, although one of the hardest in Franny Parker's life, turns out to be plentiful.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateMay 26, 2009
    ISBN9781429947626
    Unavailable
    Franny Parker
    Author

    Hannah Roberts McKinnon

    Hannah Roberts McKinnon grew up in Fairfield County, Connecticut, writing about and drawing animals. The daughter of an English teacher, she spent her early childhood nights falling asleep to the click-clack of her father’s typewriter and adopted his love of words and literature. She attended her first young author’s conference in Mrs. Myers’ third-grade class with her debut story “Rodents on the Range,” a hamster Western, and has not been the same since. Hannah attended Connecticut College, graduating with a B.A. in English and elementary education. She later traveled to Australia, and earned her M.A. and sixth-year degree in education from Flinders University of South Australia. After sharing her love of children’s literature with her elementary school students for ten years, Hannah sat down to write her first novel, sneaking writing time during her daughter Grace’s naps. Her second novel, The Properties of Water, is slated to come out in 2010. Hannah is working diligently on her next book, once again stealing minutes to write, this time during the naps of her daughter Finley. She lives in Connecticut with her family and two fine dogs.

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    Reviews for Franny Parker

    4.5/5

    16 ratings4 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Franny Parker, written by The Properties of Water author Hannah Roberts McKinnon, is about people living in “Two houses, side by side along the same bubbling river: one brimming with warm voices that spilled from its windows, one aching with a sadness that rippled from its shingled roof like rainwater.” Twelve year old Franny Parker lives in the house brimming with warm voices. Newcomer Lucas Dunn and his mother, Lindy, live in the house of sadness.At the beginning of the summer, when Lucas and Lindy move into the old cabin next door, it is instant crush for Franny. It seems like Lucas might feel the same, but Sidda, Franny’s older sister, is trying to attract Lucas’ attention. Things go smoothly for a little while, Franny nursing wounded animals back to health and Lucas working at the local Harland’s Market. But unnerving things begin to happen. A black car arrives at the Dunn’s cabin and neither Lucas nor Lindy are happy about it. Soon after, $3,000 is missing from Harland’s. The once happy Dunns are now sad and distant. The Parkers’ offers of assistance go unaccepted by Lucas and Lindy. McKinnon has such a beautiful way with words. The way she describes Oklahoma farm town life and its inhabitants, the countryside, the sadness when a farm burns down touch the reader. McKinnon’s characters, such as gruff Grandma Rae and her posse of quilters, are colorful to say the least. Franny’s caring parents and the Dunns are real. Readers will immediately like Franny and Lucas and Ben, Franny’s younger brother. They’ll love rural Oklahoma, both the idealized version as well as the hard-life version. Franny Parker is what every girl-next-door should be. I personally want to move into the Dunn’s cabin and befriend her. For those of you old enough to remember The Waltons, consider the Parkers modern-day Waltons, quiet caring, quaint sayings, family-oriented, full of hope. For those of you too young to remember The Waltons, just sit down and enjoy are marvelous book.“In the end, Lucas was right about plentiful seasons. Although that summer was one of the hardest, it was really the beginning. In me it added to the rings of my tree, the hope and the sadness, thbe trying and the giving up, and trying all over again. It filled me up, spilling into my branches, unfurling my leaves. My limbs tingled with the energy of it. And I grew.”Like I said with The Properties of Water, Franny Parker might also be one of my 10 best for 2011 (even though it was written in 2009).
    • 5/5
      This is a beautiful story. I strongly reccomend it to upper elementary and middle school readers. It is about family, friendship, animals, adventure and is surprisingly full of suspense. It tackles a tough topic with class, and without being too graphic at all. It is hopeful and inspiring to the reader. I loved her characters and how carefully she crafted them. I laughed a lot, but it's a bit of a tear jerker, too. Franny was someone I'd love to call a friend.
    • 5/5
      Franny is a coming of age girl power book for all. I loved this little gem of a story. Set in OK Franny learns to stand up for herself, rescue wild animals, and fall in love for the first time with a troubled teen who needs her help. When his dark secret overpowers the idyllic nature of her growing up, Franny learns that she must ask for help and stand up for what she believes in. Suddenly she rescues not just the animals suffering the summer drought, but her family, her friend, and herself. This book contains some of the most beautiful and evocative prose I've read in a long time. I didn't want it to end. Lovely, lovely, lovely.
    • 4/5
      Through a hot, dry Oklahoma summer, twelve-year-old Franny tends wild animals brought by her neighbors, hears gossip during a weekly quilting bee, befriends a new neighbor who has some big secrets, and learns to hope.