Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia

Need something happy and fun to read? Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia is a cute book about a sixth grader, Bird, whose goals in life are to gain fame and glory, and to go to Disney World. When she has the opportunity to achieve her dreams in a spelling bee contest, Bird picks the new boy, Harlem, to be her partner, and they study hard. The pressure is on. Will Bird and her new best friend, Harlem get to Disney World, even through their challenges? Read this heartwarming tale of friendship to find out! I really love the quirky characters in this story. They really brought the fictional book to life. I give this book four stars! It's definitely a keeper. Read Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia by Barbara O'Connor.

Barbara O'Connor has written a thoughtful book focusing on human nature's tendency to "see and not see." O'Connor has given her main character, Bird (short for Burdette) the words and feelings many readers will immediately identify with, or feel guilty for having produced in others. Can you, as an adult remember kids in your class? Are there some for which you just can't put a name and face together? Did you look through or past them? Or, were you the kid that seemed to be transparent? This transparency is what makes Bird's blood boil. This "little bird" is never noticed except for a few crumbs of criticism that are thrown her way by the "plummed" in-group of girls with names like Misty or Jenna. Bird defiantly sets her goal to move from a group of "one" to a group of "two". She decides to become friends with a new student who seems to be as transparent as Bird herself. Bird enlists the help of her neighbor, Miss Delphine, who in Bird's opinion is a person who can look right through the mean spirit in another and see the good. O'Connor's description of Miss Delphine carefully hints at a separateness as well. This character is not one that has been looked through but rather looked at. Her fiery red hair, blue eye shadow, shiny layered costume jewelry, and glittery clothing have more than likely made the more conservative residents in this small southern town of Freedom, GA. feel uncomfortable. A peacock among pheasants to be exact. Miss Delphine's demeanor - calm, kind, and nonjudgmental - indicates that indeed she is aware of the difficulties of "seeing" and "not seeing" others. She gently guides Bird to the realization that it is more important for a person to "see" the true individual rather than forming an opinion from a mere glimpse. Bird does indeed achieve her goal in becoming friends with the gawky new kid, Harlem Tate. It is obvious Harlem has failed a grade or possibly two. He is very withdrawn, causing him to initially ignore Bird's pecks of friendship; however, she is relentless and soon helps Harlem discover his "broken wing". Again O'Connor asserts that what is or isn't seen is the difference. She unites this small group of characters in a comfortable nest of self-acceptance and permits them to find importance in one another, and isn't being sincerely valued by a few more important than being vaguely valued by many?

Burdette Weaver (Bird) is a middle schooler living in Freedom, Georgia. Her two goals are to get noticed in town and to go to Disney World. Bird's one friend is her neighbor Delphine Reese. Miss Delphine is a lovely lady with red hair and sparkly clothes. She has moved back to Freedom to take care of her sick father. She has a way of finding good in everyone and always makes Bird feel good about herself. Bird has met a new boy at school and decides she wants to be his friend. She know just how Harlem feels when kids make fun and throw food at him. The school spelling bee is a chance for Bird to realize all of her goals. She asks Harlem to be her partner to help her win fame and glory and the big prize, a trip to Disney World. You can understand how Bird feels when "thinking about how the whole world was all filled up with wanting and not one little ounce of getting." Barbara O'Connor writes about the usual teen problems. I would recommemd this book to middle schoolers because of the similarity in the problems they face growing up. Young females will especially relate to the self-esteem issues that Bird experiences. O'Connor's clever humor keeps you laughing instead of feeling bad for the young teens.

Harlem Tate is new to Freedom, Georgia and nobody at school seems to want to be his friend except for Burdette "Bird" Weaver. Bird doesn't have any school friends either and when she sees Harlem she thinks it is a "stroke of luck". Bird wants to make him a friend "before somebody poisons his mind with lies about" her. But before she can convince him to be her friend, she hears that the annual state spelling bee is coming up and the winners of the spelling bee will earn a trip to Disney World. To be noticed and to visit Disney World are two goals Bird wants to accomplish more than anything. Bird thinks winning the spelling bee just might be the way to realize her goals but she needs to have a partner. Can she convince Harlem to be her partner and eventually her friend? Befriending Harlem and convincing him to be her parnter is a bit harder than she anticipates. With help from Miss Delphine, Bird's next-door neighbor and best friend, Harlem agrees to be Bird's spelling bee partner. Bird may just be on her way to realizing all her dreams. This is an endearing book, which illustrates the quiet strength and courage of a young girl who listened to herself rather than other people. A young girl saw the worth in a person even when society ridiculed and turned their back on that person. This book is a reminder to us all, no matter how young or old, that we each possess gifts of compassion, love and friendship and when we share those gifts with others we transform lives including our own.

The story of Burdette Weaver (Bird) and her journey to find what is truly meaningful to her. She learns people around her are not always kind to her and others. She thinks if she finds a way to get famous people will like her for who she really is. She is the kid at school who is frequently picked on and she tries to come up with ways to keep the other kids from hurting her feelings. If she could just get Harlem Tate to be her friend maybe together they could come up with a way to get the "Fame and Glory" they deserve in Freedom, Georgia. Read this cute chapter book about the struggles of Bird and her friend and see the awesome lesson they learn together.