Halfway to Harmony /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A heartfelt middle-grade novel from New York Times bestselling author Barbara O'Connor about a boy whose life is upended after the loss of his older brother--timeless, classic, and whimsical.

Walter Tipple is looking for adventure. He keeps having a dream that his big brother, Tank, appears before him and says, "Let's you and me go see my world, little man." But Tank went to the army and never came home, and Walter doesn't know how to see the world without him.

Then he meets Posey, the brash new girl from next door, and an eccentric man named Banjo, who's off on a bodacious adventure of his own. What follows is a summer of taking chances, becoming braver, and making friends--and maybe Walter can learn who he wants to be without the brother he always wanted to be like.

Halfway to Harmony is an utterly charming story about change and growing up.

Don't miss Barbara O'Connor's other middle-grade work--like Wish; Wonderland; How to Steal a Dog; Greetings from Nowhere; Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia; The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester; and more!

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

A boy grieves the death of his revered older brother in O'Connor's (Wonderland) tender story. Ten-year-old Walter Tipple loves living in Harmony, Ga., which is why he can't understand why his older brother, Tank, was so eager to enlist in the Army and fight in the overseas war in which he was killed. Now, all Walter has to remember Tank by is his prized truck--which Walter runs faithfully for a few minutes daily--an unopened letter, and a strange recurring dream. With his birthday approaching, Walter welcomes the distraction of his loquacious and bossy new neighbor, Posey. When the two of them venture to a nearby creek to catch minnows, they find a stranger named Banjo, injured from a hot air balloon fall, who enlists Walter and Posey to help him recover the damaged balloon, resulting in an unexpected but much-needed adventure for Walter as well as a chance to strengthen his friendship with Posey. O'Connor's characters are vividly portrayed, especially Walter, whose insight illustrates his grief, which is by turns confusing, overwhelming, and infuriating. Banjo and Posey's antics provide levity, and the quest to save Banjo's balloon propels the plot forward, resulting in a feel-good novel reminiscent of Moon Over Manifest. Ages 8--12. Agent: Barbara Markowitz, Barbara Markowitz Literary. (Jan.)

Booklist Review

Walter Tipple, 10, does not expect much out of his summer. His brother, Tank, died in an overseas war six months ago, leaving his mother in a kind of depressed fog. His father is on the road much of the time, and no one his age lives near him. In addition, Walter is shy, is pigeon-toed, and has a lazy eye, and he doesn't have friends anyway. His life changes when Posey, along with her mother, Evalina, and a three-legged dog named Porkchop, moves in next door. Posey is outspoken and a little bossy, but she leads Walter on a real adventure. They find an injured man named Banjo in the woods and join his quest in finding his hot-air balloon so he can mend it and enter a balloon competition. Over the course of the summer, Walter finds his voice and his spirit, and he's finally able to face his grief over Tank. This friendship story is sweet and savory, with memorable main characters in Walter, Posey, and Banjo and a story elegant in its simplicity.

Horn Book Review

Ask ten-year-old Walter Tipple to describe himself, and he would start with the perceived negatives: his slight build, pigeon-toed walk, and lazy eye. He's an easy target for the local bullies -- except when he was with his older brother, Tank, former captain of the football team (and a daredevil who rode a motorcycle into church). But Tank left Harmony, Georgia, to join the army and was killed, leaving Walter despondent and friendless. That is, until a new neighbor, Posey, moves in and the two stumble across a nearly lifeless man, one Jubilation T. Fairweather, a.k.a. Banjo (because his older brothers always picked on him). This discovery leads to the beginnings of a beautiful friendship and a great adventure involving a hot-air balloon, a contest to win a Ford, and Walter driving Tank's beloved truck to save the day. With its fast pace, liberal use of Southern idioms, one bodacious adventure, and memorable characters, this book has read-aloud written all over it. Betty Carter March/April 2021 p.97(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

A hot air balloon race over a small Southern town helps a boy cope with grief. Eleven-year-old Walter Tipple is celebrating his birthday, but with a sad heart. Tank, the older brother that he hero worships and who is fighting in a war overseas, has died. Then a series of events enlivens his quiet life in the sleepy town of Harmony, Georgia. Posey moves next door with her single mother and three-legged dog. Walter, who is meek and has amblyopia, is targeted by school bullies. Posey has a birthmark on her left cheek, loves to read nonfiction and quote advice on making friends--and she stands up for herself fiercely. Together, they find Jubilation T. Fairweather, a man who literally falls into their lives from his damaged hot air balloon. Nicknamed Banjo, he is determined to find his balloon and win a race, an endeavor that becomes the focus of the story's action. Walter thinks constantly about his brother but is unable to read Tank's last letter. The two children balance fear with bravery, and in the concluding balloon ride over Harmony, Walter finds the strength to reconcile his feelings about Tank. Posey owns up to her own fears, and Banjo remains the quirky catalyst. Readers follow Walter's inner feelings through a narrative that is centered on his thoughts and actions, but the resolution of family grief ultimately feels facile. All characters present as White. Heartfelt and accessible. (Fiction. 9-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Barbara O'Connor was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. She has written many award-winning books for children, including the New York Times -bestselling Wish, Wonderland, How to Steal a Dog, Greetings from Nowhere, and Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia.