What Happened on Fox Street

by Tricia Springstubb, Heather Ross (Illustrator)

Overview

Fox Street was a dead end. In Mo Wren's opinion, this was only one of many wonderful, distinguishing things about it.

Mo lives on Fox Street with her dad and little sister, the Wild Child. Their house is in the middle of the block—right where a heart would be, if the street were a person. Fox Street has everything: a piano player, a fix-it man, the city's best burrito makers, a woman who cuts Mo's hair just right, not to mention a certain boy who wants to teach her how to skateboard. There's even a mean, spooky old lady, if ringing doorbells and running away, or leaving dead mice in mailboxes, is your idea of fun. Summers are Mo's favorite time, because her best friend, Mercedes, comes to stay.

Most important, though, Fox Street is where all Mo's memories of her mother live. The idea of anything changing on Fox Street is unimaginable—until it isn't.

This is the story of one unforgettable summer—a summer of alarming letters, mysterious errands, and surprising revelations—and how a tuft of bright red fur gives Mo the courage she needs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062011121
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/24/2010
Series:	Fox Street , #1
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
Lexile:	720L (what's this?)
File size:	754 KB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Tricia Springstubb is the author of the acclaimed middle grade novels What Happened on Fox Street and Mo Wren, Lost and Found as well as the picture book Phoebe & Digger. The mother of three grown daughters, she lives with her husband and cats in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. You can visit her online at www.triciaspringstubb.com.

Heather Ross is an illustrator, author, and textile designer. She is the illustrator of How to Behave at a Tea Party by Madelyn Rosenberg, as well as the Crafty Chloe books by Kelly DiPucchio. She also wrote the bestselling craft books Weekend Sewing and Heather Ross Prints. Heather's own dog, Lobo, currently holds a regional title for Smelliest Pup. She lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

Readers…will care what happens to these lovingly drawn characters even as Mo confronts inevitable change…Among today's many angst-ridden tales, this big-hearted novel stands out for its portrayal of connection and kindness.
—The Washington Post

Mary Quattlebaum

Springstubb effectively turns the neighborhood into a character in its own right, one that’s loving and protective. Mo’s voice is original, though it has tinctures of Scout and Harriet. What happened on Fox Street? Love, belief and caring. — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Springstubb creates a richly human and believable story of the conflicts of growing up and a well-paced, interesting plot with plenty of surprises that readers should find pleasurable and satisfying — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Gr 4–7—Mo Wren, 11, loves her home on Fox Street where she lives with her father and younger sister, Dottie. It's a run-down neighborhood, but everyone knows everyone else and there's a real feeling of community. This summer Mo is watching her sister, looking for a fox she believes has a den near the neighborhood, and spending time with her friend Mercedes. She must also deal with changes that seem to be on the way. A shady developer has targeted Fox Street and is trying to get the residents to sell, threatening the use of "eminent domain." Mo stands firm for the home she loves—the home that holds memories of her deceased mother. It's an eventful summer with friendships lost and found, secrets revealed, and family ties strengthened. The book (Balzer + Bray, 2010) by Tricia Springstubb is read with humor and sympathy by Jeannie Stith who creates unique voices for the characters. This is a nice treatment of a moving, slice-of-life tale that also gently teaches that you can draw strength from the past while moving with courage into the future.—Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

School Library Journal

Mo mostly loves living on Fox Street, which has everything except foxes, girlfriends and her mom (who died when she was young). Which is why she's eagerly waiting for her best friend Mercedes to arrive and stay the summer with her grandmother, Da, who lives across the street. The first sign that this summer won't be the same is that Mercedes has shaved her head in rebellion against her new stepfather. As the town waits for badly needed rain, tensions build when the residents receive registered letters claiming a neighbor has sold their house, and they should too. Multiple issues are linked: Mo's dad's unhappiness over his job with the water department, which leaves Mo in charge of her wild young sister; Da's diabetes, which caused her to lose toes; the strange behavior of old Mrs. Steinbott; eminent domain; race relations—and Mo's need to find a fox. Springstubb effectively turns the neighborhood into a character in its own right, one that's loving and protective. Mo's voice is original, though it has tinctures of Scout and Harriet. What happened on Fox Street? Love, belief and caring. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews