The Last Newspaper Boy in America

July 27, 2009
Corbett (Free Baseball
), a journalist and PW
contributor, writes an energetic story of a boy whose passion saves the spirit of his small town of Steele, Pa. Twelve-year-old Wil cannot wait to take over his brother Sonny's paper route, a job that has been in his family for decades. So when the publishers of the Cooper County Caller
decide to cut costs by eliminating delivery to Steele, Wil takes action (“He has a tendency to argue his point until the other person collapses from fatigue,” his mother remarks). But Wil discovers that he has more to contend with than losing his job when the town clairvoyant gives him some ominous advice—“You must watch carefully.” His suspicion mounts when the Cooper County Fair opens and no one is able to win the large cash prize in the Cover the Spot game. In addition to trying to save his route, Wil assigns himself the task of solving that mystery (“Steele Boy Opens Investigation,” reads one of the headline-style chapter openers), bringing his community together in the process. Corbett's graceful dialogue, lovingly drawn characters and clever plot form a timely and refreshing tale. Ages 10–up.

October 1, 2009
Gr 4-7-The David family has delivered the "Cooper County Caller" to residents of Steele, PA, for as long as anyone can remember. Wil's 12th birthday signals that he will take over for his older brother, and he's been practicing his tosses from his bike. When the circulation manager phones the day before his start date to inform him that the "Caller" has decided to discontinue home delivery, Wil is devastated. The more he thinks about it, the madder he gets: folks in his rural community rely on that paper for important news and employment opportunities. Many are jobless since the factory shut down, and TV reception is iffy with no cable service. Putting his stubborn streak to good use, Wil goes up against the big corporation that bought the paper. Chapter titles resembling newspaper headlines foreshadow what is to come. Like the author's "Free Baseball" (2006) and "12 Again" (2002, both Dutton), this novel has a likable protagonist, engaging secondary characters, realistic dialogue, and a fast-moving plot that both seasoned and reluctant readers will enjoy. While Michael Winerip's "Adam Canfield" titles (Candlewick) focus on the inside workings of newspaper production, Corbett offers a timely look at how increased dependence on electronic news sources is impacting small newspapers and their audiences. Youngsters who have grown up surrounded by cable television and online news will have much to ponder after they have turned the final pages of this thought-provoking story."Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2009
Grades 4-6 When the county newspaper announces that it will be discontinuing home delivery to tiny Steele, Pennsylvania, 12-year-old Wil David is devastated. And why not? Hes just about to inherit his older brothers paper route, a route that has been passed down from David brother to David brother for decades. Will Wil be the last David to deliver? Not if he has anything to say about it, and they dont call him Wil of Steele for nothing. In the meantime the great Cooper County Fair arrives and with it a new draw: a disc-throwing game with a grand prize of a thousand dollars! But is the game fixed? Never fear, as the ever-determined Wil is on that case, too. Corbett, a reporter herself, has written an engagingif not always entirely plausiblestory rooted in the sad realities of todays declining newspaper business and its inevitable impact on the sense of community that has enriched small-town America.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)