Owen Foote, Frontiersman - Hardcover

Martha Weston was the author and illustrator of two charming picture books about Tuck, as well as the illustrator of Clarion's successful Owen Foote books by Stephanie Greene. Martha Weston died in 2003.

Grade 2-4-Owen Foote is back and is as irrepressible as ever. His idol is Daniel Boone and his favorite place to be is in the fort/tree house that he and his friend Joseph have built in the woods belonging to a neighbor. But when the neighbor's grandsons arrive and threaten to destroy the fort, Owen must find a way to protect it. Using a series of measures that include scattering animal "scat" throughout the fort, putting pine pitch on the ladder, cutting through a ladder rung so that it will break, and ultimately dropping a snake on one of the bullies' heads, Owen scares the boys away. He even manages to convince his mom to be less overprotective and learns a lesson about honesty along the way. Greene brings Owen to life with little boy problems and solutions and, aside from some occasional mature language, his character rings true. Although it strains credulity that the boy's mother actually allows him to go through with his plan once she learns of it, for the most part the story portrays a loving, supportive family that allows a boy to be who he is and discover for himself how to overcome bullies with his brains. Black-and-white pencil illustrations scattered throughout support the text nicely. There is nothing new or unusual here, but librarians looking for beginning chapter books with plenty of child appeal will certainly find that here.
Amy Lilien-Harper, Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.