Hippomobile!

Starred review from August 15, 2013
The town of Wymore is dying, and it's not just because the majority of its 51 residents are "all old and have either gray hair or no hair at all." During the summer months, when their parents are working long hours out of town, twins Jimmy and Stella are watched over by 47 grandparents, none of whom are related to them by blood. The twins eat their meals at Mabel's cafe, sleep in the local hotel, spend time in their special tree and try hard to memorize all the presidents of the United States. When Mabel admits to them that she can't afford to keep the cafe open any longer, they put their eager brains to the problem of saving Mabel's and, subsequently, the town. How? By resurrecting a glorious vehicle invented by a previous, mysterious town inhabitant. In his first book for a young audience, Tapia (Deep Tissue, 2012) shows remarkable ownership of language that his readers will find both hilarious and wise. Peppering the pitch-perfect description and dialogue are phrases like "Stella scraped her prayer bones" and "the biggest linguisters," and for readers who can't figure out what those mean, Tapia provides plenty of footnotes. The relationships between the young and old, the townspeople and the town are endearing and enduring. A rousing adventure with double the heart. (Adventure. 8-12)

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November 1, 2013

Gr 4-6-Twins Jimmy and Stella spend their summers in the town of Wymore with their 47 grandmothers and grandfathers, none of whom are really members of their family. The siblings' real grandparents decided the heat was too much and moved somewhere colder. Wymore used to be a bustling community, but that was long ago and now the citizens share the 25 rooms of the local hotel and get their meals at Mabel's Cafe. Unfortunately, Mabel finds herself in financial straits and must close the diner, and if it closes, so will the town. The kids decide to put their heads together and rebuild the Hippomobile, an invention created originally by one of Wymore's more mysterious former residents. The town's hopes hinge on the ingenuity and hard work of the twins and their extended family. Tapia's first book for younger readers creates a tapestry rich with characters whose language is as unique as the townspeople themselves. Though the colloquialisms can distract and may, at times, be difficult to interpret, the ever-present footnotes ensure that most readers will understand exactly what is taking place. All in all, this is a story that children will find delightfully engaging.-Wayne R. Cherry, Jr., First Baptist Academy Library, Houston, TX

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2014
Twins Stella and Jimmy live in a hot, dry town in economic ruin. Their plan to attract visitors centers on the resurrection of an unusual old vehicle created by the town's most well-known citizen. The twins, as one narrator, breathe tremendous vitality into a familiar theme, but some readers might be put off by the countless footnotes and colloquialisms.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)