Marcy Hooper and the Greatest Treasure in the World - Hardcover

Marcy loves to read but can't spell; she imagines fantastic adventures but is a klutz when it comes to jumping rope or learning to ride a bike. Failing to make it into the treehouse (for a planned day's reading) without a boost from her brother, she sets out on her own to the distant hills, where she encounters first a grass nymph who advises her to ``seek if you would find,'' and then a fierce dragon. Using her wits, Marcy escapes--without the dragon's treasure, but with a new regard for her own abilities and potential. A simplistic message: if Marcy has a learning disability, as her symptoms suggest, hard work and self-reliance may be essential to overcoming it, but they aren't likely to be sufficient. Still, an appealing depiction of a third grader confronting her real dragons in an imaginary guise suggested by her favorite books. (Fiction/Young reader. 7-10) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Grade 2-4-- Third-grader Marcy walks toward the hills near her house, where she can forget her troubles at school and home for a little while. But when she rests, a mysterious grass nymph appears and challenges her to search for a buried treasure. She can't resist the prospect of finding something wonderful and soon learns that seeking treasure can be dangerous--especially when she finds herself in the grip of a fierce fire-breathing dragon. Marcy's character is not fully sketched out, but the fast-paced action shows the development of her resourcefulness and determination. Although the story concentrates primarily on the girl's dawning self-awareness, the lessons she learns are important. Dotted with black-and-white illustrations, this fantastical chapter book will attract those searching for mild adventure. --Jana R. Fine, Clearwater Public Library System, FL
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.