Barbara O'Connor – författare

Once you've finally captured the most enormous frog in Carter, Georgia, what exactly are you supposed to do with it?

The #1 New York Times–bestselling middle-grade novel about a girl who, with the help of a true-blue friend, a big-hearted aunt and uncle, and the dog of her dreams, unexpectedly learns the true meaning of family in the least likely of places. Perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo.Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. She even has a list of all the ways there are to make the wish, such as cutting off the pointed end of a slice of pie and wishing on it as she takes the last bite. But when she is sent to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family she barely knows, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is until she meets Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard, a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in serious danger of discovering that what she thought she wanted may not be what she needs at all.Don''t miss Barbara O''Connor''s other heartwarming middle-grade titles:WonderlandHow to Steal a DogGreetings from NowhereBeethoven in ParadiseFame and Glory in Freedom, GeorgiaThe Small Adventure of Popeye and ElvisOn the Road to Mr. Mineo''sThe Fantastic Secret of Owen JesterHalfway to Harmonyand Dream, the standalone companion to Wish, coming to bookstores on 8/26/25!

From Barbara O''Connor, the author of the #1 New York Times-bestseller Wish, comes a big-hearted story about the meaning of friendship, the joys and pains of growing up, and one lovable runaway dog. Perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo.Mavis Jeeter is fearless and bold, but she has never lived in one place long enough to have a real best friend. Her flighty mother has uprooted them again to another new home and taken a job as a housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis wants this home to be permanent—which means finding herself a best friend.Rose Tully is a worrier who feels like she doesn’t quite fit in with the other girls in her neighborhood. Her closest friend is Mr. Duffy, but he hasn’t been himself since his dog died. Rose may have to break a few of her mother’s many rules to help Mr. Duffy—and find someone who really understands her.Henry has run away from home, but he craves kindness and comfort—and doesn’t know where to look for them.When Mavis and Rose hatch a scheme to find Mr. Duffy a new dog, their lives and Henry’s intersect—and they all come to find friendship in places they never expected.Don''t miss Barbara O''Connor''s other heartwarming middle-grade titles:WishHow to Steal a Dog Greetings from NowhereBeethoven in ParadiseFame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia The Fantastic Secret of Owen JesterThe Small Adventure of Popeye and ElvisOn the Road to Mr. Mineo''sHalfway to Harmonyand Dream, the standalone companion to Wish, coming to bookstores on 8/26/25!

A powerful middle-grade novel from Barbara O’Connor, New York Times-bestselling author of Wish, about a boy who is about to go on the biggest adventure of his life. Perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo.Walter Tipple is looking for adventure. He keeps having a dream that his big brother, Tank, appears before him and says, “Let’s you and me go see my world, little man.” But Tank went to the army and never came home, and Walter doesn’t know how to see the world without him.Then he meets Posey, the brash new girl from next door, and an eccentric man named Banjo, who’s off on a bodacious adventure of his own. What follows is a summer of taking chances, becoming braver, and making friends—and maybe Walter can learn who he wants to be without the brother he always wanted to be like.Halfway to Harmony is an utterly charming story about change, friendship, and growing up.Don''t miss Barbara O''Connor''s other heartwarming middle-grade titles:WishWonderlandHow to Steal a Dog Greetings from NowhereBeethoven in ParadiseFame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia The Fantastic Secret of Owen JesterThe Small Adventure of Popeye and ElvisOn the Road to Mr. Mineo''sand Dream, the standalone companion to Wish, coming to bookstores on 8/26/25!

Barbara O’Connor, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish, delivers an ingeniously crafted story full of southern charm, kid-sized adventures, and quirky, unforgettable characters. Perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo.Summer days drift by slowly in Meadville, South Carolina--that is, until Sherman the one-legged pigeon flies into town and causes a ruckus. First Stella, who''s been begging for a dog, spots him on top of a garage roof and decides she wants him for a pet. Then there''s Ethel and Amos, an old couple who sees the pigeon in their barn keeping company with a little brown dog that barks all night. The pigeon lands smack in the middle of Mutt Raynard''s head, but he''s the town liar, so no one believes him. And when Stella''s brother Levi and his scabby-kneed, germ-infested friends notice the pigeon, they join the chase, too. Meanwhile, across town, Mr. Mineo has one less homing pigeon than he used to…Don''t miss Barbara O''Connor''s other heartwarming middle-grade titles:Wish Wonderland How to Steal a DogGreetings from NowhereBeethoven in ParadiseFame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester The Small Adventure of Popeye and ElvisHalfway to Harmonyand Dream, the standalone companion to Wish!

The highly anticipated follow up to Wish, which has spent six years on the New York Times bestseller list and is beloved by over two million readers. Dream follows a small town girl with big aspirations who discovers that anything is possible with your best friends and an adorable pup by your side!The sky is the limit.Idalee Lovett is content with her life in small-town Colby, North Carolina, living in her family’s huge house with rooms for rent. But she has big dreams, just like her mama. While Mama is on tour for the summer with her cover band, Lovey Lovett and the Junkyard Dogs, Idalee decides to hone her craft as a songwriter—since her truest wish is to hear her country songs on the radio one day.When the local radio station announces a songwriting contest with the winning song being recorded by an up-and-coming singer, Idalee is determined to win. It would definitely be possible if only she could buy the shiny blue guitar in Asheville’s music shop. Idalee doesn’t have much money, but she knows exactly how to get it—the long-lost treasure her late granddaddy hid somewhere in their house. With the help of her friends Odell, Howard, Charlie, and an adorable little dog named Wishbone, Idalee is going to search in every nook and cranny until she finds it. But little does she know, the biggest treasure of all is only discovered when you believe in yourself with your whole heart.In this standalone companion to the #1 New York Times bestseller Wish, nothing is impossible as Idalee learns the power of chasing her dreams one guitar strum at a time.

From the #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of WishA Bank Street Best Children''s Book of the Year A School Library Journal Best Book of the YearA Parents'' Choice Award WinnerThis heartwarming and witty novel is perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo.Half of me was thinking, Georgina, don''t do this. Stealing a dog is just plain wrong. The other half of me was thinking, Georgina, you''re in a bad fix and you got to do whatever it takes to get yourself out of it.Georgina Hayes is desperate. Ever since her father left and they were evicted from their apartment, her family has been living in their car. With her mama juggling two jobs and trying to make enough money to find a place to live, Georgina is stuck looking after her younger brother, Toby. And she has her heart set on improving their situation. When Georgina spots a missing-dog poster with a reward of five hundred dollars, the solution to all her problems suddenly seems within reach. All she has to do is "borrow" the right dog and its owners are sure to offer a reward. What happens next is the last thing she expected.Don''t miss Barbara O''Connor''s other middle-grade work:WishWonderlandGreetings from NowhereBeethoven in ParadiseFame and Glory in Freedom, GeorgiaThe Small Adventure of Popeye and ElvisOn the Road to Mr. Mineo''sThe Fantastic Secret of Owen JesterHalfway to Harmonyand Dream, the standalone companion to Wish, coming to bookstores on 8/26/25!

From Barbara O’Connor, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish, comes a charming tale that is a humorous and heartwarming look at the joy that can come out of being a Royal Rule Breaker, and learning to find one’s own adventures. Perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo. Nothing ever happens in Fayette, South Carolina. That''s what Popeye thinks, anyway. His whole life, everything has just been boring, boring, boring. But things start to look up when the Jewells'' Holiday Rambler makes a wrong turn and gets stuck in the mud, trapping Elvis and his five rowdy siblings in Fayette for who knows how long. Popeye has never met anyone like Elvis Jewell. He''s so good at swearing he makes Uncle Dooley look like a harp-strumming angel, and he says "So what?" like he really means it. Then something curious comes floating down the creek—a series of boats with secret messages—and it sends Popeye and Elvis into the big world on the hunt for a small adventure.Don''t miss Barbara O''Connor''s other heartwarming middle-grade titles:Wish Wonderland How to Steal a DogGreetings from NowhereBeethoven in ParadiseFame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester On the Road to Mr. Mineo’sHalfway to Harmonyand Dream, the standalone companion to Wish!

From Barbara O’Connor, the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Wish, comes a book about new friends, a frog, and an unforgettable summer. Perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo.An amazing secret has tumbled off a freight train into Carter, Georgia, and Owen Jester is the only person who knows about it. If he can simply manage to evade his grandfather''s snappish housekeeper, organize his two best friends, and keep his nosy neighbor, Viola, at bay, he just might be in for the summer of a lifetime. With her trademark wit and easy charm, Barbara O''Connor spins a fantastic fable of friends, enemies, and superbly slimy bullfrogs.Don''t miss Barbara O''Connor''s other heartwarming middle-grade titles:WishWonderlandHow to Steal a DogGreetings from NowhereBeethoven in ParadiseFame and Glory in Freedom, GeorgiaThe Small Adventure of Popeye and ElvisOn the Road to Mr. Mineo''sHalfway to Harmonyand Dream, the standalone companion to Wish, coming to bookstores on 8/26/25!

From the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Wish, Greetings from Nowhere, with its four intertwining stories, brings Barbara O''Connor''s work to a new level of sophistication.Aggie isn''t expecting visitors at the Sleepy Time Motel in the Great Smoky Mountains. Since her husband died, she is all alone with her cat, Ugly, and keeping up with the bills and repairs has become next to impossible. The pool is empty, the garden is overgrown, and not a soul has come to stay in nearly three months. When she reluctantly places a For Sale ad in the newspaper, Aggie doesn''t know that Kirby and his mom will need a room when their car breaks down on the way to Kirby''s new reform school. Or that Loretta and her parents will arrive in her dad''s plumbing company van on a trip meant to honor the memory of Loretta''s birth mother. Or that Clyde Dover will answer the For Sale ad in such a hurry and move in with his daughter, Willow, looking for a brand-new life to replace the one that was fractured when Willow''s mom left. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is that Aggie and her guests find just the friends they need at the shabby motel in the middle of nowhere.Don''t miss Barbara O''Connor''s other heartwarming middle-grade titles:WishWonderlandHow to Steal a DogBeethoven in ParadiseThe Fantastic Secret of Owen JesterFame and Glory in Freedom, GeorgiaThe Small Adventure of Popeye and ElvisOn the Road to Mr. Mineo''sHalfway to Harmonyand Dream, the standalone companion to Wish, coming to bookstores on 8/26/25!

From the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of WishA Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the YearThis 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:WishWonderlandHow to Steal a DogGreetings from NowhereBeethoven in ParadiseThe Fantastic Secret of Owen JesterThe Small Adventure of Popeye and ElvisOn the Road to Mr. Mineo''sHalfway to Harmonyand Dream, the standalone companion to Wish, coming to bookstores on 8/26/25!

From Barbara O’Connor, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish, comes an inspiring story with humor, emotion, and a colorful cast of characters that shows readers that there’s room for genius wherever there’s a place for compassion. Perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo."You''re just wasting your God-given talents if you don''t get yourself something besides a little ole harmonica to play." Wylene made it sound so easy. Martin had always liked music -- liked to listen to it, liked to make up tunes in his head. But all he had to do was say the word "piano" to his father and all hell would break loose.His father thought music was for sissies, and was always mad at Martin for not being good at baseball. But with a lot of help from his friends Wylene and Sybil, and his grandmother, Hazeline, Martin learns that, although he can''t change his father, he can learn to stick up for himself.Don''t miss Barbara O''Connor''s other heartwarming middle-grade titles:Wish Wonderland How to Steal a DogGreetings from NowhereFame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester The Small Adventure of Popeye and ElvisOn the Road to Mr. Mineo’sHalfway to Harmonyand Dream, the standalone companion to Wish!

Who left the baby at the Rock of Ages Baptist Church?Randall Mackey has a secret. He knows who left the baby on the steps of the Rock of Ages Baptist Church. But he can''t tell anyone, not even his best friend, Jaybird. And he certainly can''t let Jaybird''s little sister, Althea, find out because she''d be sure to shout it from the rooftops. Randall can''t tell because Queenie Avery was also there, and he wants to protect her. Poor old Queenie seems to be getting more and more forgetful these days. And now that she''s begun to wander, folks in town want to send her away, which would break Mr. Avery''s heart. While Randall''s busy worrying about doing the right thing, everyone in town is discussing who should take care of baby Moses, and it isn''t long before a feud breaks out. Randall has to come up with a plan that won''t hurt those he most wants to help. And he''s got to do it quickly before the situation gets completely out of control.

Learning to share loveThings at Jennalee''s house are just plain crazy, which is why she loves her predictable days helping Uncle Beau (who isn''t really her uncle) at his general store. But then Rupert Goody shows up, claiming to be Uncle Beau''s son. Jennalee can''t believe it, because Rupert is black and Uncle Beau is white. But Uncle Beau tells her it is true and incorporates Rupert into his life, ruining Jennalee''s routine.Although Rupert is slow, he is kind-hearted and tries hard to please. When more unforeseen events -- this time frightening ones -- further interrupt life at the store, Jennalee comes to see that Rupert Goody, odd though he may be, is certainly not the worst unexpected thing that could come along, and that he belongs with Uncle Beau as much as she does. With a vividly depicted setting, emotional truth, and a distinctly Southern voice, Barbara O''Connor shows that there is love enough to go around.

A girl abandoned by her mother discovers the feeling of familyPearl''s mother, Ruby, just up and left her with Aunt Ivy, who''s a complete stranger to Pearl. "Your mama''s done gone off the deep end," Ivy says, and Pearl wonders if she''ll ever come back - Ruby has always been wild and irresponsible. So Pearl is stuck with Aunt Ivy, and Moonpie, the neighbor boy whose mother doesn''t want him, either, and John Dee, Aunt Ivy''s Beau. But these three people seem to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, in a way that Pearl can''t comprehend, and she feels left out. As she starts to understand what connects them, and how much she wants to be a part of it, Ruby appears.With a vividly depicted setting, emotional truth, and a distinctly Southern voice, Barbara O''Connor shows how Pearl develops a whole new notion of what she wants, and what she deserves.