The Very Worst Thing

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A Place For David - Rated
David is a 12-year-old boy who yearns for a place to belong. He and his older sister, Lily, have been in the foster care system for several years and have contended with major obstacles. Enuretic until the age of 7, David also has trouble in school and he is often bullied.

David's social worker places him in a home in a new town and this proves to be the start of a new phase in his life. After years of making mental lists of what he thinks are the "very worst things" in numerical order, David has some things to add to those lists. He and his sister are separated and he is unhappy in school, where he is placed in a lower a grade. On the plus side, David is placed in a home with a single woman who plainly loves and wants him to be there.

School remains a major issue in David's life. He is regularly attacked by bullies and his one friend is a girl some four years his junior who has been skipped to their grade. Mab, David's newest ally helps him discover his inner strength. When David finds an owl egg, he and Mab raise the owlet together. The pair name the bird "King Arthur" after the legendary king most famous for his valor, wisdom and strength. Indeed, their conversations are round table discussions about the things they feel are important. Mab helps David read her copy of "King Arthur" and it is through this book that the bond between the two strengthens.

An excellent book that will certainly captivate readers of all age. This book is an excellent teaching tool in classrooms and is also a good family book to share. Readers of all ages will find reasons to connect with Mab and David. This book is very inclusive and people from any and all professions can get something out of it.