Pass Me A Pine Cone, Please
Revised 2006 Edition
by
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Hey, Ma,” Seth Overton called, “who put a big box of pine cones in the back seat? I left that space on top of the clothes pile for Monster.”
“Shh.” Betty Overton put her finger to her lips and moved closer to him. “Keep it down, Seth. Mr. Rudeen might hear you. He’s talking to your dad somewhere. His car is still here. Actually, I expected to send his box in the moving van, but the movers left before he got here.” She shot Seth a cautioning look.
He read the label on the carton. “To Sarah Rudeen,
“Sarah is Mr. Rudeen’s young niece,” his mother replied, keeping the conversation low.
“We’re hauling pine cones to the mountains? Ma, haven’t they heard? The mountains are full of pine trees. Why, exactly, are we carrying pine cones from Oceanview to Sierra?”
“Because Mr. Rudeen thinks it’s important to Sarah. And . . .”
“And what, Ma?”
“And he was sure you would be glad to take them to her.”
“Glad!” Seth had a trapped look. “How old is this little girl?”
His mother hesitated. “Teenage,” she said.
“Terrific.” Seth rolled his eyes. “A teenager who wants pine cones. Sounds just like my type.”
“I knew you’d be thrilled. But we do owe Mr. Rudeen a favor. After all, he was the one who made the first contact for your dad on this new job.”
The two men appeared from the side of the house and moved toward Lars Rudeen’s car. Lars reached out to shake hands with the three Overtons. “Well, George, good luck in your new school. A lot of people will miss you at Oceanview High.”
“Thanks, Lars. If only the local teacher organizations would stop fighting with each other, I’d stay here. But I expect to like the mountains.”
“I’ll see you up there soon,” Lars replied. “I go to Sierra often to keep in touch with my relatives. Especially Sarah. She’s quite special.”
Seth thought to himself, “Oooo, Sweet Sierra Sarah. Very special. I can hardly wait.”
Lars climbed into his car. “Goodbye, and have a safe journey, he called. “And Seth, thanks for delivering the cones.”
“No problem,” Seth replied.
His mother looked stunned.
Lars waved and drove off.
“Hello--ooo, Sierra Sarah,” Seth chanted. "Ooo yeah, ooo yeah . . . Sweet Sierra Sarah with a pine cone in your hair.”
“Thank you for keeping your enthusiasm to yourself while Lars was here,” his mother said. "I know you don't like anything about this move, and we're sorry we had to do it to you." She turned and hurried into the house for a final check.
“Okay, Seth. Better get Mo
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About the Book
Seth Overton and his cat, Monster, are not thrilled by the prospect of being strangers in a whole new kind of world when they move from Oceanview to Sierra. Even worse, Seth will be the new principal's kid in a small mountain town. And to top it all off, he's sure it's some kind of bad joke when a neighbor asks him to haul a big box of pine cones to Sierra and deliver them to some girl there. The surprise is that Sarah Rudeen, the girl who needs pine cones, turns out to be anything but a joke.
Seth, Sarah, and her dog, Shashi, become a solid team as they design and construct an elaborate tree house for Monster—big enough for them to enjoy, too. Seth's harassment as the new principal's kid surfaces when he is targeted for "special attention" by a teacher who goes only by the name "Laney", and who hates all administrators.
As Halloween approaches, some of Laney's followers plan to vandalize the tree house, knowing it will earn them better grades from Laney. When Seth hears of the planned attack, he decides he has to fight his own battle without help from his dad or the local police. Only two very unique kids with two very unusual animals could ever come up with the totally original defense plan that ultimately makes life safe for Seth in his new school. And only a girl like Sarah could turn a pine cone delivery into the beginning of a business partnership and the start of a solid friendship.
This story of how a new principal and his family start their adjustment to a new school and town was obviously written by someone who has spent time on 'the other side of the desk.' It is surprisingly perceptive of the pressures put on teachers and their kids, both by themselves and others.
School Library Journal
The convincing characterizations will probably have readers on finishing the book say, "I'd like my dad to be like that," and "That's the kind of boyfriend (girlfriend) I'd like to have.
High/Low Report
About the Author
Phyllis Anderson Wood, winner of the Church and Synagogue Library Association's award for "significant contribution to children's literature," is the author of thirteen young adult novels, which have been popular since 1971 in schools and libraries throughout the
These novels were written during Mrs. Wood's years of teaching in the
Altogether, Mrs. Wood taught for thirty years in
More information can be found on her website, www.phyllisandersonwood.com.