Where I Belong - by Mary Downing Hahn (Paperback)

Number of Pages: 240
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Sub-Genre: Social Themes
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Clarion Books
Age Range: 9-12 Years
Book theme: Bullying
Author: Mary Downing Hahn
Language: English

About the Book

Alienated, bullied, a classic underachiever, 12-year-old Brendan retreats into his fantasy world and then faces the long and demanding journey to a real world where he belongs.

Book Synopsis

No one is kind to sixth-grader Brendan Doyle: his foster mother, his teachers, his classmates, and especially the thugs who bully him. He takes refuge in books, drawing, carving, and daydreaming. When Brendan stumbles upon an old man near his tree house in the Virginia woods, he is quick to believe that this is the magical Green Man, guardian spirit of the forest. Brendan's need to immerse himself in his fantasy world becomes more acute, until he meets a girl with secrets of her own who may just keep his feet on the ground.

Review Quotes

"Another solid outing from veteran Hahn."
--Kirkus

"Hahn gives Brendan a narrative voice that is urgent, contemplative, and believable in this nuanced story about transformation, trust, identity, friendship, and loss."
--Publishers Weekly

"This is quintessential middle-grade realistic fiction, with an unvarnished depiction of the miseries that can be visited upon a quiet sixth grader and the succor that can be found in the hard-won friendship of peers and the attention of understanding elders."
--Horn Book Magazine

"A gentle and moving story."
--Booklist

"The fantasy of a forested getaway spot and the universality of Sam's self-doubt give this strong appeal to a wide audience, who will start prowling their own neighborhoods for secret arboreal hideaways."
--Bulletin

About the Author

Mary Downing Hahn, a former children's librarian, is the award-winning author of many popular tales of mystery and suspense, including Closed for the Season and Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls. An avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland. Visit her website at www.marydowninghahnbooks.com.