Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs by Betty G. Birney - Available

The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs

by Betty G. Birney
Joseph Buttler
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
When Eben McAllister reads about the Seven Wonders of the World, he longs to escape the small farming community of Sassafras Springs and do some exploring of his own. No one else ever seems to want to leave Sassafras, however–not even his best pal, Jeb–and so, for now, Eben figures he’s stuck on the farm with Pa and Aunt Pretty until he grows up.
All that changes when his pa, tired of Eben’s moping, challenges him to find Seven Wonders in Sassafras Springs that can stand up to the real Seven Wonders of the World. And if he does? Then Eben will get the adventure he’s been craving for–a trip out West. Eben doesn’t reckon he’ll have any luck–he can’t think of even one thing that could be called “interesting,” let alone wondrous, in Sassafras, but he figures he’ll give it a try.
Told in a down-home narrative with glimmers of magical realism woven throughout, Betty G. Birney’s tale about a boy’s journey of discovery reminds us all that extraordinary things can happen in the most ordinary of places . . . even in Sassafras Springs.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    November 8, 2007

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780739386293
      • File size: 104552 KB
      • Duration: 03:37:48

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • Text Difficulty: 3-6

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Eben McAllister longs to see the world beyond his small town. His opportunity arises when his father offers him a trip out west if he can find seven wonders in Sassafras Springs. Doubtfully, Eben sets out in search of them. He discovers that his town is full of surprises and wonders, although not the kind he expected to find. Joseph Buttler reads with a quiet cadence that easily slips listeners into another time and place, where life was simpler and people looked out for each other. Buttler's narration captures the personalities and goodness of the characters in this caring and tight-knit community. Listeners could easily wish they were surrounded by such neighbors and friends. J.K.R. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from August 8, 2005
      How do you keep them down on the farm after they've read about the Seven Wonders of the World? That's one of the heart-tugging questions gently raised in Birney's (The World According to Humphrey
      ) tender and captivating gem of a novel. Farm life in dusty Sassafras Springs, Mo., in the early 1920s seems pretty boring to young Eben McAllister, who longs to see the world's big cities, the pyramids and the other grand things that he's pored over in books. He may get his wish, too, when he accepts his father's challenge to find seven true wonders right in his hometown. The prize is a train journey to visit relatives in Colorado. Eben's search turns up the sparkle to be found in everyday life when one takes the time to look—and even listen—for it. Through a series of neighbors' and his own family's colorful accounts, Eben finds a bit of surprising magic right under his nose, and begins to view the people around him differently, too. Birney's engaging, memorable cast and homespun phrasing convey a comfortable, porch-sitting tone that emphasizes the power of story. Phelan makes his children's book debut with the accompanying sweet, rustic pencil drawings that bring Eben's journey into clearer view; he often places silhouettes of characters gazing at one another across a spread, to pique readers' interest. One full-page drawing per Wonder helps dramatize why each qualifies for the definitive septet. Ages 8-12.

    • School Library Journal

      January 1, 2007
      Gr 4-7 -Eben McAllister can't wait to get out of the small town of Sassafras Springs, Missouri. After reading about the seven wonders of the world, living in cramped quarters with his Aunt Pretty and Pa becomes unsatisfying. Eben's convinced there's nothing in Sassafras worth exploring, with the likes of the Great Pyramid at Giza and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon out there. His Pa gives him a challenge he can't pass upif he can find seven wonders in Sassafras Springs in seven days, he will be rewarded with a train ticket to Silver Peaks, Colorado to visit relatives. Eban, his dog, and two friends embark on the quest. Before long, the entire town is talking about its wonders and telling Eben their stories. Getting to know the townspeople ultimately teaches Eben to see the small but important things in life and prepares him to face the world outside of his hometown. In Betty Birney's wonderful tale (Atheneum, 2005), each of the seven stories is intricately carved, and they all fit together like a mosaic work of art. Joseph Butler's excellent narration aptly portrays the novel's down-home narrative style. The tall-tale tone of each story will engage listeners. The unattractive cover art is childish for its intended audience and will not pique the interest of middle schoolersit will be up to librarians to promote this noteworthy audiobook that is a bow to the storytelling tradition.Ann Crewdson, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

      Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Text Difficulty:3-6

Loading