October 15, 2011
Grades 3-6 After old Mrs. Minton saves him from drowning, Wes strikes up an unexpected friendship with her. His friend says that he owes Mrs. Minton a life debt, and Wes worries how he could ever repay it. His chance comes when the town's aspiring pyrotechnic blows up the television tower. Wes decides to fix the tower in time for Mrs. Minton to watch her granddaughter's ski race, but the task morphs into a complex series of trades. Underlying the story is the recent death of Wes' father, whose words of wisdom continually echo in his head: A man pays his debts, Wes. The device lacks subtlety, but it keeps the story clipping along. Through Mrs. Minton, Wes glimpses his father as a boy, before he became Mr. Highest Respect in the County. The plot moves quickly from one humorous situation to another. Quirky but believable characters populate the small Canadian town, giving a yesteryear feel to a modern story. With its slim length, fast pace, and humor, this title will appeal to a wide range of readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)