How Oliver Olson Changed the World

March 1, 2009
Gr 2-4-Oliver Olson's overprotective parents present the boy with a lot of rules and rarely allow him to contribute to his own school assignments. They consistently offer words of caution instead of words of encouragement, and plenty of "no's." It is only when Crystal, a talkative classmate, asks Oliver to be her partner for the solar system project that he finds his voice. Crystal is determined that Pluto should still be considered a planet. Oliver, full of unexpressed protest, has a great idea for how to keep it in their diorama. Emotionally, he identifies with the "left out" planet because he knows his parents won't allow him to attend the space sleepover at school, even if it is the biggest event of third grade. When the class brainstorms ideas to change the world, Oliver thinks parents should not do homework for their kids. Little does he know that people will listen. Mills has a knack for creating characters who demand compassion due to a pitch-perfect sense of humor and pathos. This is a perfect selection for parent book clubs whose members are overly involved in their children's lives or for budding chapter-book readers. They'll appreciate the funny ink-and-wash drawings, the primer on social activism, and a fun romp through an artfully taught unit on the solar system, replete with scientific arguments for and against Pluto's planethood.Sara Paulson, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York, NY

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2009
Grades 2-4 Oliver feels as excited as his classmates when their third-grade teacher describes the upcoming space sleepover. Theyll spend the night at school, see the stars and planets through a telescope, play space games, and watch a science-fiction movie. But Oliver knows he wont be able to gobecause his overprotective parents dont allow sleepovers. When Crystal, his solar system diorama partner, intervenes to help Oliver air his opinions, he begins to see a path toward independence. Mills creates believable characters who express the emotional nuances as well as the practical difficulties of Olivers predicament. The scene in which Oliver watches his mother and father start to make his diorama themselves offers a painfully accurate portrayal of over-involved parents. But perhaps the most notable achievement of the book is to show Crystal and Oliver changing their minds about an issue (whether Pluto should be called a planet) as they learn more about it. An engaging and thought-provoking chapter book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)