| Friendship -- Juvenile fiction. |
| Time travel -- Juvenile fiction. |
| Friendship -- Fiction. |
| Magic -- Fiction. |
| Fantasy -- Fiction. |
| Fantasy fiction. |
Available:*
Audience | Shelf Location | Material Type | Shelf Number | Current Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids/Juvenile | Fiction | Book | JFIC STANLEY | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
A heartfelt and magical middle grade novel in the tradition of Tuck Everlasting and Bridge to Terabithia, about family, wishes, and the power of true friends to work magic.
While cleaning out her reclusive grandfather's house, Joplin discovers pieces of a broken platter in a cookie tin. After having the platter repaired, Joplin wishes that she could both find a friend at school, and befriend the girl pictured in the platter.
The next day, Joplin befriends a boy named Barrett, and also notices a girl outside her apartment. A girl who looks remarkably like the girl in the platter...
The girl introduces herself as Sofie, and she has a terrible secret. Cursed to grant wishes for the owner of the platter for all of time, she has been trapped for centuries. Joplin and Barrett vow to help her, but freeing Sofie is more complicated than they could have imagined, and the three friends end up against a sinister foe who could put them all in terrible danger.
Author Notes
Diane Stanley was born in 1943 and was raised in Abilene, Texas. She later attended both Trinity University and Johns Hopkins University.
Her portfolio of children's book illustrations was creative enough for her to begin publication in 1978. She became an art director for G.P. Putnam & Sons and later began retelling and illustrating classic children's books.
Stanley has revamped the fairy tale, Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter and has also researched the children's biographies Cleopatra and Leonardo Da Vinci. She also illustrated her mother's book, The Last Princess.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Stanley's latest novel juxtaposes the life of Joplin, a somewhat privileged fifth grader living in present-day New York City, with magic and alchemy from the mid-17th century. Joplin's reclusive and famous grandfather has just died, and she and her family are dealing with notoriety and paparazzi. Joplin is painfully attacked by thoughtless classmates as a result. The pieces of an old Delft platter depicting a young girl from long ago is her chosen souvenir from her grandfather. Joplin wishes she could have a real friend, and the very next day a boy named Barrett befriends her-and the girl depicted on the platter, Sophie, comes to life. Sophie, like a genie in a bottle, is forced to grant wishes for the owner of the platter for all time. Joplin and Barrett vow to help free Sophie from the curse. The idea of casual wishing is examined thoughtfully. Stanley also addresses the cruelty of several classmates and the inability of trusted teachers to respond appropriately. The many threads of the plot unite into a satisfying if predictable ending. VERDICT A charming tale that is neither frothy nor profound.-Carol A. Edwards, formerly at Denver Public Library © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Stanley (The Chosen Prince) deftly infuses magic and mystery into this uplifting story about friendship and second chances. After the death of fifth-grader Joplin Danforth's estranged grandfather, who was a famous author, Joplin and her mother trek from New York City to his remote cabin in Maine to salvage his final writing. There, Joplin finds a beautiful but broken antique platter. Once repaired, the platter reveals a lovely scene: a girl standing by a pond. Joplin, tired of constant ridicule by classmates, wishes for the girl in the image to be her friend, and is stunned to find Sofie sitting in her garden the next morning. Along with new friend Barrett, the children undertake the daunting task of getting Sofie back to her home-a small Dutch village 400 years in the past. Stanley's clever premise will quickly capture the imaginations of young readers, but it's Joplin, with her headstrong determination; Sofie, with her soft-spoken resolve; and Barrett, with his enthusiasm and logic, who make this story special, exemplifying true friendship and sacrifice. Ages 8-12. Agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Eleven-year-old Joplin visits her reclusive grandfather's home after his death and chooses a memento to keep: a tin containing the puzzlelike broken pieces of a Delftware platter. Reassembled and repaired, it features an outdoor scene with a Dutch girl. Joplin idly wishes that they could be friends. The next day, she meets the same girl outdoors and discovers that her image has magically disappeared from the platter. Sofie, now living in the world again but in the wrong place and the wrong century, longs to go home. Joplin and her friend Barrett are determined to help her return, whatever it takes, though the cunning alchemist who initially trapped Sofie threatens them all. Joplin is a beautifully drawn character: capable, complex, prickly, and very aware of those around her, even while being bullied at school. While Stanley's previous fantasy novels, including Bella at Midnight (2006) and The Silver Bowl (2011), had period settings, her latest takes place in contemporary New York City, yet is just as magical. The city becomes the backdrop for events that are as wrenching as a kidnapping and as transcendent as the sudden attainment of a dream. Written with intelligence, verve, and polish, this unusual fantasy takes readers on a journey they won't want to miss.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2017 Booklist