Synopsis
Determined to find his father and relive their good times, twelve-year-old Spencer takes his cat, slips away from home in Seattle, and sets out for San Francisco's Candlestick Park.
Twleve-year-old Spencer lives in Seattle with his mother, his Aunt May, and his beloved cat, Foxey. Spencer, who hasn't seen his father for years, believes he lives in San Francisco and works for the San Francisco Giants baseball team. When Spencer's mother and his Aunt May tell him he can no longer keep Foxey, he decides to run away to California (of course, bringing Foxey with him) in search of his father--a man he's sure would let him keep his pet. Unfortunately, traveling from Washington state to California by bicycle is a lot more difficult than Spencer anticipates--especially when his money is stolen and Foxey manages to escape.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1997-09-01 |
| Size | | Height: | 8.8 in | | Width: | 5.8 in | | Thickness: | 0.8 in | | Weight: | 11.2 oz |
Publisher's Note
Faced with an ultimatum from his mother to take his cat to the animal shelter, Spencer sets off to find his father, whom Spencer believes works for the San Francisco Giants baseball team, and start a happy new life with him. This fast-paced adventure story delivers taut suspense and raises important questions about honesty, realistic goals, and the human/animal bond.
Industry Reviews
Gr 4-6 Life has hit the skids for 12-year-old Spencer Atwood. Since his parents' divorce, money has been very tight. When he and his mother are forced to move out of the house they can no longer afford, he is told that he cannot keep his cat, Foxey. Spencer takes his pet and leaves for San Francisco to find his estranged father, who, based on a recent postcard, might work at Candlestick Park. The journey tests the boy's principles when he is forced to steal food and transportation. His money lost, he puts his trust in a kind old man who agrees to care for Foxey temporarily. Arriving at the ballpark, Spencer finds his father, but soon realizes that he can't live with him. The boy returns to Mr. Woodworth's house, hoping that he and the cat can live there, but finds that the old man has just died of a heart attack after changing his will and leaving his savings to Spencer. Beneath the easily met challenges and the convenient ending is a warm story of a boy's emotional growth. While his mother is self-absorbed and oblivious to the importance of her son's relationship with his pet, Spencer is a likable, self-reliant young man with strong values. The ballpark and cat on the cover will attract readers, but it is Spencer's strength of character and his bond with Foxey that make the book work. Jeanette Larson, Texas State Library, Austin
Lopate
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