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Reviewed by:
  • Quinny & Hopper by Adriana Brad Schanen
  • Jeannette Hulick
Schanen, Adriana Brad Quinny & Hopper; illus. by Greg Swearingen. Disney Hyperion, 2014 230p ISBN 978-1-4231-7829-3 $15.99     R Gr. 3-5

Almost-third-grader Hopper is the kind of quiet kid who would prefer to stay in his room and build a model of a human foot than socialize. When bouncy-haired, mile-a-minute talker Quinny moves in next door and decides to befriend Hopper, however, he is basically powerless against her designs, and the two enjoy spending the summer together. When back-to-school time rolls around, Hopper abruptly ends the friendship, sure Quinny won’t want to spend time with him when she [End Page 62] finds out what a loser he is at school. A bewildered Quinny reluctantly takes up with mean girl Victoria until a series of events lead her and Hopper to reestablish their friendship, this time stronger than ever. Quinny and Hopper take turns narrating their story, and although the maturity of their narration doesn’t quite match their young ages, the strength of their individual identities and their likability as characters override their occasional precocity. Hopper’s thoughtful and observant voice (about Victoria: “She acts like it costs her money to be nice to people, and she doesn’t think I’m worth it”) and Quinny’s lively and amusing one (“‘Didded is not a word,’ I inform my grimy little sister. ‘And put a shirt on, you chimpanzee’”), combined with the quick-paced plotting, make this an engaging page-turner. Judy Moody fans will have a ball with Quinny and Hopper, and elementary teachers or librarians looking for a spirited readaloud selection will want to pick up a copy as well.

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