Bibliographical information:

Schmidt, Gary D. First Boy. New York: Henry Holt, 2005.

Brief summary:

High-school freshman Cooper Jewett lives with his grandfather and helps to run the family dairy farm. When his grandfather dies, he struggles to keep the farm up on his own. But mysterious black sedans have started appearing in town, and their occupants (including a senator) suggest that Cooper's parents aren't really dead, and that he's not who he thinks he is. As various parties try to involve him in a national political scandal, he becomes increasingly aware of how much he loves his farm and his neighbors.

Comments:

While the plot is a bit far-fetched, it's far-fetched in a fun way. The characters are well drawn, especially Mrs. Perley, the retired teacher, who has a lovable propensity to correct the English of thugs who are threatening her neighbors.  Schmidt finds poetry in these relationships and in the routine of the dairy farmer.

Grade/Age level:

Grades 4-8

Cautions:

If you like this book, you might also like . . .

Other books by Gary Schmidt, including Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy and The Wednesday Wars.

--Lisa Gordis

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