Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia - by Barbara O'Connor (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Wish
A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
This inspiring, humorous title from Barbara O'Connor is perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo.

All her life, the only thing Bird has ever wanted is to be noticed in her small town and to get to Disney World. As it turns out, Bird could have a chance to realize at least one of her goals because of a state spelling bee, and she might get to make a friend along the way--a boy named Harlem Tate who has just moved to Freedom. Harlem seems like a kindred spirit--someone like Bird, whom people don't usually take the time to find the good in. (Unless it's someone like Miss Delphine, who always makes Bird feel special.) But as much as Bird tries to get his attention, Harlem is not easily won over. Then Harlem agrees to be her partner in the spelling bee, and if they study hard enough, the two might just win everything Bird's always wanted.

Don't miss Barbara O'Connor's other heartwarming middle-grade titles:
Wish
Wonderland
How to Steal a Dog
Greetings from Nowhere
The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester
Halfway to Harmony
and Dream, the standalone companion to Wish, coming to bookstores on 8/26/25!

Review Quotes

"Finely tuned." --Starred, Booklist

"Bird's original voice has charm, grit, and spunkiness that, combined with small town sensibilities, unique characters, and humor, spell out a winner." --Starred, Kirkus Reviews

"An idiosyncratic group of characters play out this touching and well-paced story about friendship, family, and connection." --Horn Book Magazine

"Bird is literary kin to Scout, heroine of Harper Lee's famous "To Kill a Mockingbird....as charming and fresh as ...the month of May." --Boston Globe

About the Author

Barbara O'Connor is the author of numerous acclaimed books for children, including Me and Rupert Goody, Greetings from Nowhere and How to Steal a Dog. She has been awarded the Parents' Choice Gold and Silver Awards, the Massachusetts Book Award, and the Dolly Gray Award, among many honors. As a child, she loved dogs, salamanders, tap dancing, school, and even homework. Her favorite days were when the bookmobile came to town. She was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, and now lives in Duxbury, Massachusetts, a historic seaside village not far from Plymouth Rock.