Marsh & Me

Gr 4–8—Joey has a secret: he wants to play the guitar. He has been teaching himself in his bedroom and practices when he is alone on a hill in his neighborhood. Then someone else enters his world on the hill and starts building a tree house that resembles a rocket ship. Joey calls her Marsh, short for Martian, because she won't tell him her name or anything real about herself. They begin to spend time together on the hill and Joey learns that Marsh is the daughter of Serbian immigrants and that her mother has recently died. This short, contemplative story is an Australian import and is told through first person present tense. Joey narrates his thoughts as he struggles with feelings of inadequacy. Readers will cheer for Joey as he finds his voice and Marsh as she comes out of her shell. Give this to fans of Wonder looking for a short read.