Description
Filip, the ten-year-old son of Croatian immigrants, lives in a boring suburb of the big city, where he passes his time either at school or in his cozy kitchen, googling everything from dinosaurs to the Hubble Space Telescope.
When his favorite uncle gets sick, Filip turns to Google for answers. Instead he receives a visit from the Great Googlini, a tiny woman in Converse sneakers who swirls out of the computer vents. She's not really a genie, she explains: "I'm more of an archivist." Her visit is a little bit of magic that lets Filip see the magic all around him. Ultimately about the things we can know and the things we can't, this is a smart, touching, funny chapter book about growing up, braving tough times and looking for answers.
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Contributor Notes
Sara Cassidy is a poet and journalist and the author of nine books for young readers, including Slick and Skylark. Her books have been selected for the Junior Library Guild, and she has been a finalist for the Kirkus Children’s Literature Prize, the Chocolate Lily Award and the Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize. Sara has taught at Camosun College and Royal Roads University.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 6 to 8
- Grade:
- 1 to 3
- Reading age:
- 6 to 8
Awards
- Short-listed, Chocolate Lily Book Awards - Chapter Books / Early Novels
- Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
Editorial Reviews
★ "Cassidy has crafted a thoughtful glimpse into the life of an immigrant family…Chua's spot art…gives some visual depth to various scenes, and helps nascent chapter-book readers with comprehension and pacing. For fans of Google, trivia, and family strength."
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"A thoughtful, touching story that moves at a good pace, could help children dealing with a seriously ill friend or family member, and it includes many interesting facts for everyone. Highly Recommended."
— CM: Canadian Review of Materials
