03/25/2019
Real life, legend, and magic collide in this engaging middle grade debut by Calabrese (Lena’s Shoes Are Nervous), set in the economically struggling Ohio town of Cliffs Donnelly, whose “Welcome to” sign has been defaced to delete all letters but “if only.” At the center of the intriguing maelstrom are three students at the aptly named Rod Serling Middle School, each coping with a thorny family situation, and Thompkins Well, buried deep in the woods, which according to local lore grants wishes to those in need. As the well’s power manifests itself piecemeal, lonely, overprotected Ernest, 11, takes to heart his dying grandfather’s wish that he clean out his attic, which the boy feels is “magically telling him to give things to people.” And each object, similarly enchantedly, “managed to end up where it belonged,” making unspoken, serendipitous wishes come true. Unforeseen new friends, brooding but generous Ryan and insightful Lizzy, join increasingly confident Ernest in his quest to get to the bottom of the well’s magic and protect its secret. Ancillary characters—a reformed bully, a caring teacher, an unscrupulous reporter—add to the eclectic mix, as Calabrese reaches the solid core of his layered novel: “You can’t fix the world. But you do your best in your own little corner of it. And you hope.” Ages 8–12. Agent: Emily Mitchell, Wernick & Pratt Agency. (Feb.)
"A promising first novel that delivers its own measure of hope." — Booklist"A story of friendship, character, and believing in good." — School Library Connection"Every so often — though not very often — a book comes along that reminds us of what we are capable of as human beings. It reminds us that we can be kind. It reminds us that we can create. It reminds us that we really can grow into our best selves. And it does all this with a story that startles us with the absolute conviction that we are connected in ways whose complexities we can never fully know. This is one of those books." — Gary D. Schmidt, Newbery Honor winner and author of Okay for Now"Keith Calabrese has given us more than a drop of hope in this endearing novel; Ernest and Ryan and Lizzy not only make me want to move to the town of Cliffs Donnelly, their story has renewed my faith in humanity." — Kirby Larson, Newbery Honor-winning author of Hattie Big Sky "A Drop of Hope is a rapid-fire novel, wishing-well deep and rich with relatable characters all discovering that forging strong friendships, families, and communities takes hard work, empathy, and just a little bit of luck." — John David Anderson, author of Mrs. Bixby's Last Day and Posted
Winter 2018
Gr 4–6—A wishing well and an attic full of junk serve as the catalysts for a town in need of help. The students at Rod Serling Middle School, inspired by Mr. Earle's tale of Tomkins' Well and its ability to grant wishes, find themselves in a position to help make their neighbors' wishes come true. One of the students, Ernest, discovers an attic full of interesting items while honoring his grandfather's deathbed request that he clean the long-neglected space. The things he finds begin to play a role in fulfilling the Tomkins' Well wishes of the townspeople seeking magical solutions to their everyday problems. Ernest also uncovers family secrets about a jewel heist and the history of his town. VERDICT Readers who enjoyed Louis Sachar's Fuzzy Mud will be drawn to this positive tale that reminds readers that they are not alone.—Laura Dooley-Taylor, Lake Zurich Middle School North, IL
Narrator George Newbern’s genial tone imparts warmth and kindness to this story of a town that has seen better days and a wishing well with the power to change lives and mend relationships. With impeccable consistency and an easygoing pace, Newbern evokes the atmosphere of a place out of time, complete with mysterious deathbed wishes, a failing family business, and even a jewel heist. Subtle changes in his voice help to distinguish the multitude of characters, many of whom are children. Some listeners may struggle to make sense of the numerous interwoven storylines of this complex audio, but Newbern’s steady delivery anchors the plot with a welcome measure of continuity. Here is an engaging, feel-good listen that the whole family will enjoy. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Narrator George Newbern’s genial tone imparts warmth and kindness to this story of a town that has seen better days and a wishing well with the power to change lives and mend relationships. With impeccable consistency and an easygoing pace, Newbern evokes the atmosphere of a place out of time, complete with mysterious deathbed wishes, a failing family business, and even a jewel heist. Subtle changes in his voice help to distinguish the multitude of characters, many of whom are children. Some listeners may struggle to make sense of the numerous interwoven storylines of this complex audio, but Newbern’s steady delivery anchors the plot with a welcome measure of continuity. Here is an engaging, feel-good listen that the whole family will enjoy. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
2018-10-28
A magic well provides hope to people living in a depressed Midwestern town in this debut.
On his deathbed, Ernest Wilmette's grandfather makes 11-year-old Ernest promise to clean out his attic. The Wilmettes are the richest family in the struggling town of Cliffs Donnelly, Ohio, owners of the local tool-and-die factory. In the attic, he's attracted to an odd collection of nearly perfect toys. What is he supposed to do? The next day, after standing up to a bully in middle school, he ends up—it's a long story—stumbling across Thompkins Well, which local folklore says can grant wishes. But Ernest is in a cave at the bottom of the well, and he overhears his Indian-American classmate, newcomer Winston, make a wish—and with the help of one of the items from the attic, the wish comes true. As do many more wishes, from a wide cast of characters (most as white as the Wilmettes, although a favorite teacher is described as indeterminately biracial). The story is told through a very large number of point-of view characters, some of whom play only minor roles, fitting together as neatly as a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. The sentence-level writing is smooth, and some of the insights are lovely, but the structure is so complicated that it's going to be a hard slog for many.
This is the sort of book that adults like for children far more than children like for children. (Fiction. 8-12)
