About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is sidelined by illness, struggling with the rigidity of traditional schooling, or feeling the weight of family financial stress. Set in Depression-era Philadelphia, it follows young David, who is confined to bed after a serious bout of pneumonia. His education is taken over by the formidable Aunt Annie, known as the Gawgon, whose unconventional teaching style transforms David's recovery into a series of grand imaginative adventures. This is a masterful exploration of how the mind can remain free and expansive even when the body is restricted. It emphasizes the importance of mentorship, the resilience of the human spirit during hard times, and the joy of intellectual curiosity. It is an ideal choice for middle-grade readers who appreciate wit, historical settings, and the blurring of lines between reality and fantasy.
