Bluebonnet Book: Quinny and Hopper
Author: Adriana Brad Schanen
Illustrator: Greg Swearingen
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Illustrator: Greg Swearingen
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Major Awards: 2017 Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Book Award, 2016 Bluebonnet Award nominee
Age Group: 6-10 years old
Quinny is a friendly, energetic, and talkative girl. Hopper is a shy, reserved, yet incredibly smart boy. Quinny and her family used to live in New York, but since Quinny's Mom got a new job, the entire family moved to Whisper Valley. Quinny is not at all thrilled to be moving to the new town and even contemplated running away back to New York. Quinny didn't she'd meet anyone in her tiny new town, but just next door to her lived a boy named, Hopper. Hooper at first thought Quinny was too loud, and his twin older brothers, Trevor and Ty, made fun of him for playing with a girl. After initially being dismissive of Quinny, Hopper realizes that Quinny seems like a nice girl and he, in fact, wants to be friends with her. Hooper teaches her to juggle and Quinny teaches Hopper many new games. Near their houses, is a mean chicken named Freya. The previous owner of Quinny's home, Mr. McSoren, used to take care of Freya but after he got hurt and went to live with his sisters, Freya was left behind and would come to Quinny's house every day out of habit. Freya only trusted Mr. McSoren, so anyone who tried to get near her would get frantically pecked. With Hopper's brothers at camp all summer, Quinny and Hopper spent almost every day together. One day Quinny and Hopper were talking about Freya. Quinny began to worry what would happen with Freya during the winter and wanted to reunite her with Mr. McSoren, so her and Hopper devised a plan to catch Freya and take her to Mr. McSoren. They try everything from laying out snacks, playing music, using a large net, and using a cage trap, but nothing seems to work. Quinny and Hopper have the absolute best summer playing and trying to catch Freya (which they still hadn't done). As summer draws to a close and school is about to begin, Hopper grows distant. He's not the most popular kid at school and worries after seeing this Quinny won't want to be friends with him. This coupled with the fact that his brothers were coming home from camp and he worried they would make fun of him being friends with a girl, Hopper says something really mean to Quinny and pushes her away. Quinny is really hurt and confused by this. After this, she is no longer spending time with Hopper the rest of the summer. She instead spends time with her other neighbor, Ms. Porridge's great-niece Victoria. Victoria is friendly to Quinny but very bossy, and on the first day of school is not nice to Quinny to the point it makes her cry. Even though they haven't spoken in weeks Hopper sees Quinny is upset and tries to comfort her, but Quinny is still hurt by the way Hopper treated her. Hooper knows that needs to do something big to gain back Quinny's trust, and does so in a big way. He enlists the help of Ms. Porridge and manages to catch Freya. Both Quinny and Hopper are so excited and together with Ms. Porridge and Hopper's Grandpa, Gooley, bring Freya to Mr. McSoren, who is so happy to have Freya back. He plays the harmonica all night and everyone dances. In the end, Quinny and Hooper are best friends again, and a few weeks later as a thank you Mr. McSoren sends Quinny and Hooper tiny chicks of their own.
Quinny and Hopper is a really nice book, that would make a great addition to any 1st- 5th-grade classroom library. The book tells a wonderful story of friendship and its ups and downs. Quinny and Hooper are complete opposites and at first glance, it wouldn't seem like they would get along, but the two make a wonderful pair. By the end of the story, they both learn what matters is their friendship and how they see each other as opposed to what others think. Although the book might not be related to a particular lesson in class, the book would make a really nice independent read for students and the friendship between Quinny and Hopper is sure to put a smile on their face.
Age Group: 6-10 years old
Quinny is a friendly, energetic, and talkative girl. Hopper is a shy, reserved, yet incredibly smart boy. Quinny and her family used to live in New York, but since Quinny's Mom got a new job, the entire family moved to Whisper Valley. Quinny is not at all thrilled to be moving to the new town and even contemplated running away back to New York. Quinny didn't she'd meet anyone in her tiny new town, but just next door to her lived a boy named, Hopper. Hooper at first thought Quinny was too loud, and his twin older brothers, Trevor and Ty, made fun of him for playing with a girl. After initially being dismissive of Quinny, Hopper realizes that Quinny seems like a nice girl and he, in fact, wants to be friends with her. Hooper teaches her to juggle and Quinny teaches Hopper many new games. Near their houses, is a mean chicken named Freya. The previous owner of Quinny's home, Mr. McSoren, used to take care of Freya but after he got hurt and went to live with his sisters, Freya was left behind and would come to Quinny's house every day out of habit. Freya only trusted Mr. McSoren, so anyone who tried to get near her would get frantically pecked. With Hopper's brothers at camp all summer, Quinny and Hopper spent almost every day together. One day Quinny and Hopper were talking about Freya. Quinny began to worry what would happen with Freya during the winter and wanted to reunite her with Mr. McSoren, so her and Hopper devised a plan to catch Freya and take her to Mr. McSoren. They try everything from laying out snacks, playing music, using a large net, and using a cage trap, but nothing seems to work. Quinny and Hopper have the absolute best summer playing and trying to catch Freya (which they still hadn't done). As summer draws to a close and school is about to begin, Hopper grows distant. He's not the most popular kid at school and worries after seeing this Quinny won't want to be friends with him. This coupled with the fact that his brothers were coming home from camp and he worried they would make fun of him being friends with a girl, Hopper says something really mean to Quinny and pushes her away. Quinny is really hurt and confused by this. After this, she is no longer spending time with Hopper the rest of the summer. She instead spends time with her other neighbor, Ms. Porridge's great-niece Victoria. Victoria is friendly to Quinny but very bossy, and on the first day of school is not nice to Quinny to the point it makes her cry. Even though they haven't spoken in weeks Hopper sees Quinny is upset and tries to comfort her, but Quinny is still hurt by the way Hopper treated her. Hooper knows that needs to do something big to gain back Quinny's trust, and does so in a big way. He enlists the help of Ms. Porridge and manages to catch Freya. Both Quinny and Hopper are so excited and together with Ms. Porridge and Hopper's Grandpa, Gooley, bring Freya to Mr. McSoren, who is so happy to have Freya back. He plays the harmonica all night and everyone dances. In the end, Quinny and Hooper are best friends again, and a few weeks later as a thank you Mr. McSoren sends Quinny and Hooper tiny chicks of their own.
Quinny and Hopper is a really nice book, that would make a great addition to any 1st- 5th-grade classroom library. The book tells a wonderful story of friendship and its ups and downs. Quinny and Hooper are complete opposites and at first glance, it wouldn't seem like they would get along, but the two make a wonderful pair. By the end of the story, they both learn what matters is their friendship and how they see each other as opposed to what others think. Although the book might not be related to a particular lesson in class, the book would make a really nice independent read for students and the friendship between Quinny and Hopper is sure to put a smile on their face.
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