I was recently given copies of a couple of Polly Horvath's books to read, and I'm rather delighted with the outcome. One Year in Coal Harbor made me smile repeatedly. In fact, that's what I've been doing for the last two hours, sitting on my deck, enjoying the breeze and bird chatter, while smiling incessantly at the cleverness of Primrose Squarp.
One Year in Coal Harbor is listed as a companion to Everything on a Waffle. Insightful and observant, Primrose worries about finding the right person to call "best friend". She pals around with many of the grownups in town, but none of the other kids seem to understand her witty jokes. Until a foster kid named Ked comes to town...
With a great cast of characters, including a hot-headed restauranteur, a caring foster mother who thinks every dish is better with mini marshmallows, fishermen, and even a seer, there's never a dull moment.
Previous to One Year in Coal Harbor, Horvath's Mr. and Mrs. Bunny -- Detectives Extraordinaire graced my bedside table. What a quirky read! Madeline and parents, Mildred and Flo, are celebrating the holiday Luminaria, when suddenly Mildred and Flo are kidnapped by foxes! The foxes want a secret recipe decoded and are in search of Madeline's uncle, a top secret government decoder. Unfortunately and due to the foxes' limited English, they leave too criptive a note. Madeline brings the note to her uncle, of course, but finds him in bad health just as he slips into a coma. What's a girl to do?
Enter Mr. and Mrs. Bunny who have recently decided to become detectives. Madeline hires the Bunnys and with some help from a marmot, some extremely high platform shoes, and stylin' fedoras, the Bunnys lead her to...
Well, maybe you should just read the book. :)
