After eight-year-old Kevin Mason's mother abandons him, he takes refuge in his fantasy of becoming Knuckles McGraw, a tough cowboy roaming the plains on his legendary horse, Burlington Northern. But instead of riding the range, Kevin is stuck in a foster home with a pierced and tattooed teenager named Ice and a mute girl named Breezy. While he waits to be claimed by the fat After eight-year-old Kevin Mason's mother abandons him, he takes refuge in his fantasy of becoming Knuckles McGraw, a tough cowboy roaming the plains on his legendary horse, Burlington Northern. But instead of riding the range, Kevin is stuck in a foster home with a pierced and tattooed teenager named Ice and a mute girl named Breezy. While he waits to be claimed by the father he barely remembers or the mother who left him a good-bye note in his lunchbox, Kevin (aka Knuckles McGraw) tries to communicate with Breezy, learns to get along with his bunkhouse-mate Ice, and discovers that memories can be as deceptive as family secrets.
The Ballad of Knuckles McGraw
After eight-year-old Kevin Mason's mother abandons him, he takes refuge in his fantasy of becoming Knuckles McGraw, a tough cowboy roaming the plains on his legendary horse, Burlington Northern. But instead of riding the range, Kevin is stuck in a foster home with a pierced and tattooed teenager named Ice and a mute girl named Breezy. While he waits to be claimed by the fat After eight-year-old Kevin Mason's mother abandons him, he takes refuge in his fantasy of becoming Knuckles McGraw, a tough cowboy roaming the plains on his legendary horse, Burlington Northern. But instead of riding the range, Kevin is stuck in a foster home with a pierced and tattooed teenager named Ice and a mute girl named Breezy. While he waits to be claimed by the father he barely remembers or the mother who left him a good-bye note in his lunchbox, Kevin (aka Knuckles McGraw) tries to communicate with Breezy, learns to get along with his bunkhouse-mate Ice, and discovers that memories can be as deceptive as family secrets.
Compare
Related products
Waste of a Nation: Garbage and Growth in India
The Tao of Natural Breathing: For Health, Well-Being, and Inner Growth
Theory of the Film: Character and Growth of a New Art
Doing Both: How Cisco Captures Today's Profit and Drives Tomorrow's Growth
The Shadow of the Tsunami: And the Growth of the Relational Mind
The Public Wealth of Cities: How to Unlock Hidden Assets to Boost Growth and Prosperity
Unstoppable: Finding Hidden Assets to Renew the Core and Fuel Profitable Growth
Loranne –
Another YA winner by my friend Lois Peterson. Funny, sad, insightful.
Canadian Children's Book Centre –
Reviewed by Sandra O’Brien Kevin Mason arrives at school one day with a note in his lunch box that reads “Please look after my son I can’t take care of him anymore.” After showing the note to the school principal Kevin finds himself being taken to a foster home. There he meets Joe and Liddy, an eccentric older couple with a mute granddaughter and ICE, his pierced and chain-clad roommate. To cope with his situation, Kevin fantasizes he is Knuckles McGraw, a cowboy who wanders freely with his horse Reviewed by Sandra O’Brien Kevin Mason arrives at school one day with a note in his lunch box that reads “Please look after my son I can’t take care of him anymore.” After showing the note to the school principal Kevin finds himself being taken to a foster home. There he meets Joe and Liddy, an eccentric older couple with a mute granddaughter and ICE, his pierced and chain-clad roommate. To cope with his situation, Kevin fantasizes he is Knuckles McGraw, a cowboy who wanders freely with his horse Burlington Northern. When Kevin’s grandparents arrive, he is faced with a decision. He must decide to stay with this odd foster family where his mom will know where to find him or move to Edmonton with his grandparents whom he doesn’t remember meeting. Kevin decides on the latter after he realizes the man in one of his fondest childhood memories was his grandfather and that his grandfather can teach him all about being a cowboy. Kevin decides even a cowboy needs family. In The Ballad of Knuckles McGraw, Lois Peterson writes a humorous yet sensitive story of a young boy who is abandoned by his mother. She fills the story with a host of characters who are unusual yet kind and as we hear their stories we develop empathy for each of them. Peterson has kept the chapters short and the vocabulary fairly simple so that young readers are engaged but not overly challenged. This novel is suitable for children in the late primary and early junior grades. Canadian Children's Book News (Summer 2010, Vol. 33, No. 3)
Shawn Bird –
A sweet little book, aimed at 8-12 year olds, that explores foster care. The protagonist has an alter ego, cowboy Knuckles McGraw, who helps him as he sorts out his feelings about his mom taking off, and finding himself in the system. Realistic look at how people cope in a variety ways, and nothing is easy. I liked it.
Sylvia –
A story about loss, insecurity, and finding your own strength. A boy abandoned by his mom and put into foster care meets up with an unusual family - 'till his grandparents from Edmonton come to claim him. A story about loss, insecurity, and finding your own strength. A boy abandoned by his mom and put into foster care meets up with an unusual family - 'till his grandparents from Edmonton come to claim him.
Tami –
i realy need to read this book
Missy –
Mature themes explored in this book in a way that is very age-appropriate. Would be wonderful for children in foster care. Good character development. Short. Well done.
Yolanda Ridge –
I love the character and the story line - especially the ending which is realistic but does not disappoint.
Robyn –
Erica –
Ann –
Paige –
Jastin –
Monica Provan –
Julie Ferguson –
A delightful book for 8-10 year-olds. Great POV and deals with a tough problem well.
Linda Crosfield –
Magnetawanfarmers –
Lindsay –
Diane –
Canadian Reader –
PennyD –
Dhuvaraha –
Sarah Mcconnell –
Jenny Watson –
Mehjabeen –
Portia –
Kellie –
Sam –
Taylor –
Wendy –
Asad Uqaili –
Nancy Couturier –
Beiza –
F4 and F3/4 –
Deirdre –