Halfway to Harmony

Barbara O'Connor has written some wonderful and sweet realistic fiction stories, like Wish and How To Steal a Dog.  This was another lovely story about a boy named Walter.  His older brother has died and he is grappling with not only that huge loss but the change in his family, especially his mother, since Tank's death.  But a new, feisty girl named Pasey moves in next door.  And a hot air balloon crashed in the woods and its pilot, Banjo, vows to give them a bodacious adventure.  Walter wants to embrace life again like Tank would, but wonders if he can with the weight of his brother's death always on him.  Wonderfully memorable characters abound in this story of loss, friendship and hope. (FIC OCO)