Black Gold

September 1, 2017

Gr 2-4-Fifth grader Cyrus Inglot and little brother Rudy have traded in the big city for the Canadian countryside. It's a new way of life for the pair, and they are having a bit of trouble adjusting. One day, while selling flowers and berries by the roadside, a stranger gifts the brothers with a large container of worms-California wrigglers, to be exact. The neighboring community goes wild for them and pays the boys a pretty penny for every bag. Caring for these worms give the boys an introduction to the wonders of nature. They learn that "dirt has character." An upcoming agricultural fair tests the boys as they immerse themselves in their rural environment. This contemporary, fish-out-of-water tale is straightforward and engaging. The characters are fully developed and relatable. Rudy's fear of starting a new school is genuine as he commiserates with another anxious student. Cyrus's decision to enter his homegrown cucumber in a contest, only to switch it with a store-bought one, has real consequences. The pencil artwork is spare yet adds to the story. Educators will welcome this solid tale packed with facts about rural life. While this title is the third book in the exploits of Cyrus and Rudy, it can be read as a stand-alone. The language is easy and will appeal to reluctant readers. VERDICT A strong addition to chapter book collections. This slender title is abundant in its depictions of fear, loss, and respect for nature.-Sada Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2017
White Canadian city-dwellers-turned-farm kids Cyrus and Rudy are back for a third outing.The pair is trying to raise money by selling blackberries and dahlias as well as some enormously popular worms a neighbor has provided. Later, many of the same worms cause a funny odor problem in Cyrus' school locker. Cyrus wants to buy a new bicycle. Maybe it's that lust for prize money that causes him to make a snap decision to substitute a very robust Mexican grocery-store cucumber for the much-less-impressive one he carefully tended in the garden as his entry in the fair. He is quickly found out and offered "natural consequences" to make up for his cheat and be forgiven. The boys' next-door neighbor Rachel, who is given to dressing all in one color, is now wearing all black since her beloved grandmother, Cornelia, just died. Rudy has anxiety issues; both the memorial service for Cornelia and starting at a new school are stress-filled. This loving family, however, knows how to work together to help Rudy with his worries. Their calm and wise approach is just one of the winning aspects of this simple, down-to-earth (literally, with all the worms) early chapter book that's jam-packed with likable, well-realized characters and a compassionate but never didactic message. A worthy addition to collections for budding readers. (Fiction. 7-9)

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