A Piece of the Sky

Plot Summary

Russell’s summer seems doomed. He’s stuck in small-town Oregon without a movie theater, a baseball park, or a pizza parlor. Then a legend about an old meteorite envelops him—and connects his grandfather’s special rock and old map to a nearly blind ex-con who did time for manslaughter.

Eventually Russell, along with his new friends Phoebe and Isaac, makes a dangerous trip into the mountains to find the meteorite, rumored to be rare and valuable—and perhaps the same “piece of the sky” discovered by Russell’s great-great-great-grandfather. When the dangerous Full Moon Mullins, also on the hunt for the meteorite, overtakes them, the expedition turns into a matter of life or death.

Best-selling author David Patneaude uses the Port Orford meteorite legend to connect themes of history, family love, and wonder in this action-driven page-turner. A Piece of the Sky is sure to appeal to Patneaude’s large number of middle-grade fans.

Reviews

"...fans...will enjoy the sense of danger and the self-sufficiency of the main characters." School Library Journal

"Following the discovery by Dr. John Evans of a valuable ten-ton meteorite in a remote area of mountainous Port Orford, Ore., in 1856, the modern consequences swing from attempted murder motivated by greed to natural wonder born by scientific curiosity....This exciting treasure hunt has all the elements of a thriller, and the gun-wielding bad guy on the trail of the friends rocks the plot into hyper-mode. An entertaining light summer read." Kirkus Reviews

"Patneaude creates a suspenseful quest tale along with a sensitive portrayal of Russell’s sense of loss as his grandfather, suffering from dementia, loses touch with memories and relationships....Set in Oregon, this old-fashioned adventure story has contemporary appeal." Booklist

Associated Keywords
meteor, legend, meteorite, mystery, legend, mountains, mountain-climbing, hiking, hike, running, 65369, 6536-9