Andrea Spalding - Phoebe and the Gypsy

Andrea Spalding

Picture	Secret of the Dance Bottled Sunshine It's Raining, It's Pouring Me and Mr Mah Solomon's Tree Most Beautiful Kite in the World Sarah May and the New Red Dress A Special Gift A World of Stories
Young Adult	Phoebe and the Gypsy The Keeper and the Crows An Island of My Own Finders Keepers
Summer of Magic	[1] The White Horse Talisman [2] Dance of the Stones [3] Heart of the Hill [4] Behind The Sorcerer's Cloak
Adventure.NET	[1] The Lost Sketch [2] The Silver Boulder [3] The Disappearing Dinosaur [4] The Klondike Ring
Readers	About Me Bookmarks
Teachers	About Resources Publisher Information Appearances & School Visits Teacher Guides Direct from the Author

Phoebe and the Gypsy

By: Andrea Spalding
Illustrations by: Sheena Lott
Type: Young Adult
Published by: Orca Book Publishers
Available in: Softcover, 86pp, 1999
ISBN: 1-55143-135-1

Phoebe feels out of place on a visit to her grandmother in England, until she meets a gypsy who helps her understand more about prejudice, her father, and herself.

Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice - exceptional merit
nominee for CLA book of the year 1999
OLA Best Bets Canadian Materials 1999

- "Both Phoebe and her grandmother are fully-rounded individuals, with their strengths and imperfections illuminated. Without resorting to didacticism, Spalding sends a clear message for tolerance to young, independent, readers. Highly recommended." Children's Book News

- “a sensitive tale of human relationships... Using vivid language, the author precisely portrays Phoebe’s emotions... and her growth in understanding... Strong human relationships bind the story... This well-paced, touching story is a worthy addition to the limited collection of easy fiction for Canadians.” CM Magazine, Netreader , Manitoba Library Association.

- 1999 Best Bets list from the Canadian Materials Committee. Ontario Library Association.

- "the story is fast moving... the emotions ring true." Library Talk.

When Phoebe, a regular Canadian kid, goes to visit her Grandmother in a tiny English country village, all kinds of things go wrong. Grandma thinks she dresses inappropriately and criticizes her table manners, and everyone in the village seems know all about her and to view her as a foreigner. Phoebe feels like a freak, especially as the periods of second sight that have plagued her life seem to be happening more often.

A chance meeting with a Gypsy makes Phoebe realize she isn't a freak but she does have a special gift that can sometimes be very helpful.

Andrea wrote this story after visiting England in 1997 and meeting a Romany, or Gypsy, who still traveled around in a traditional caravan. Their conversation together fascinated Andrea, and yes, she had her fortune told!

Black & white illustrations throughout.

What does the name Phoebe mean?
In Greek mythology, Phoebe is the goddess of the moon, so it was often chosen as a Romany name. Pronounced FEE-bee. It also means shining or brilliant.

Internet Links :

The Web sites we have listed here will help you to learn more about the people and places in the book.

Book review by Joan Simpson for the Manitoba Library Association
Volume VI Number 4 . . . . October 15, 1999
http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol6/no4/phoebe.html