[LM_NET] BOOK: Sonny's house of spies

[Frederick Muller <mullinator52@YAHOO.COM>]

Lyon, George Ella. Sonny's house of spies. Atheneum, 2004 [0-689-85168-5]
  It is 1947 and just before his father leaves for good, he hears him say "A man 
can't live in a house of spies!"  His father is gone and Sonny doesn't know why.  
His mom starts going to a conservative Christian Church and one of the men members 
starts comes coming over to the house frequently.  Sonny ends up working in this 
man's donut shop and eventually finds out that this man is contact with his dad.  
While trying take care of his younger brother, Sonny becomes friends with a new 
neighbor girl.  One day Sonny hears that his father has gone off with the "queers" 
(the word used in the book.)  There is a cute page where Sonny tries to explain sex 
to his younger brother. Sonny finds a letter and confronts the donut guy who admits 
that he was "allergic to girls" and loved his father very much.  That night the 
donut shop burns down and the man dies.  After a while Sonny's dad starts talking 
to his mom again and eventually talking to Sonny on the phone.  This 298 page is a
 touching story of a boy trying to deal with a father who has left the family for a 
reason that he can't understand.  There is of course the homosexual theme in the 
book, but nothing is descriptive at all... just that the father is "queer." 


--------
Frederick Muller, Librarian
Halsted Middle School (Grades 6-8)
59 Halsted Street
Newton, NJ  07860

My book comments are compiled at
http://www.mullersreviews.com

My blog is
http://MullerInTheMiddle.Blogspot.com

Copyright Frederick B. Muller
                        
---------------------------------
See the all-new, redesigned Yahoo.com.  Check it out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------