Pennies for the Piper

by Susan McLean

Book Overview

A ten-year-old, known for her emotional strength, takes it upon herself to provide her mother with a proper funeral. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374457549
• ISBN13: 9780374457549
• Release Date: April 1993
• Publisher: Sunburst
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 2.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.1" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5 and higher

Customer Reviews

A moving, meaningful story.

A mother's slow death and the support of just a few friends change ten-year-old Bicks, who is supposed to go to her aunt's home to live. This is the involving story of a very self-reliant child who cares for mother and suffering friends alike, and who finds herself alone at to early an age. A moving, meaningful story.

Haunting And Memorable

This is a haunting story of a young inner city girl who faces the loss of her mother, which will leave her a penniless orphan. In an heartbreaking attempt to leave a final tribute to the mother she loved and lost, she sacrifices everything and sets out on the road alone to face her sorrow and uncertain future. The characters are complex and believable, the subplots are heartwrenching, and the ending is inspiring. The scenery is vivid and you will find yourself feeling the cold and desolation described within the pages. The plot is well thought out and ties up all loose ends in the final chapter.Well written and memorable. Highly recommended.

Outstanding fiction for children ages 8 - 12!

As a teacher I have read this book aloud to my fifth grade for the past 6 years. It is by far their favorite novel of the year. However, because the setting is Minneapolis, MN, we are a bit partial as we live here and are familiar with many of the places that Bicks and Stubs visit. The friendship between the two main characters is what interests the children most in that Bicks (Victoria) is a girl who lives with her dying mother and Stubs is a boy who lives with an abusive mother. It is a story about life, love and death. But in the end it is the "journey" which captures our attention. As we walk with Bicks from St. Paul to DesMoines we will never forget how she deals with her grief and comes to an acceptance of her mother's death and of her own future. And we can never, ever forget the part about the cockroaches!!!