FICTION

The Hollow Under the Tree

by Cary FAGAN
128p. Groundwood. May 2018. Tr $14.95. ISBN 9781554989997.
COPY ISBN
Gr 3–5—On May 15, 1925, the last two cars of a circus train break free, then derail and tip over, throwing a young lion out of his cage near a large park in Toronto, where he then finds refuge. Sadie, a piemaker's daughter, decides to hunt for the missing lion that she is certain is hiding in the park. She finds him and feeds him scraps of meat she obtains from the local butcher in exchange for her father's delicious pies. Fagan's writing in this short novel is succinct yet descriptive enough to hold readers' attention. The characters are a nod to beloved detective novel tropes: brave and determined Sadie; Theodore Kendrick, Jr., a kind and good-humored young boy from the town's wealthiest family who has everything but a friend; and Fergus Gumpy, a bully and nephew of a city policeman.
VERDICT This is a quick read for younger middle grade readers looking for slightly offbeat mysteries. A solid purchase for larger collections.
Reviewed by Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker Public Library, OH , May 01, 2018

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