Most Popular Books by Barbara OConnor

After Owen captures an enormous bullfrog, names it Tooley Graham, then has to release it, he and two friends try to use a small submarine that fell from a passing train to search for Tooley in the Carter, Georgia, pond it came from, while avoiding nosy neighbor Viola.

charlie resse has been making the same wish every day since forth grade but when she is sent to live with family the barly knows it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true that is, until she meets wishbone a skinny stray dog who captures her heart

Eleven-year-old Jennalee is jealous when a slow-thinking black man arrives in her Smoky Mountains community and claims to be the son of Uncle Beau, the owner of the general store and Jennalee's only friend.

Describes the life and achievements of the Italian woman doctor who developed a revolutionary method of educating children.

Who left the baby at the Rock of Ages Baptist Church? Randall Mackey has a secret. He knows who left the baby on the steps of the Rock of Ages Baptist Church. But he can''t tell anyone, not even his best friend, Jaybird. And he certainly can''t let Jaybird''s little sister, Althea, find out because she''d be sure to shout it from the rooftops. Randall can''t tell because Queenie Avery was also there, and he wants to protect her. Poor old Queenie seems to be getting more and more forgetful these days. And now that she''s begun to wander, folks in town want to send her away, which would break Mr. Avery''s heart. While Randall''s busy worrying about doing the right thing, everyone in town is discussing who should take care of baby Moses, and it isn''t long before a feud breaks out. Randall has to come up with a plan that won''t hurt those he most wants to help. And he''s got to do it quickly before the situation gets completely out of control.

From Barbara O’Connor, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish, comes a charming tale that is a humorous and heartwarming look at the joy that can come out of being a Royal Rule Breaker, and learning to find one’s own adventures. Perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo. Nothing ever happens in Fayette, South Carolina. That''s what Popeye thinks, anyway. His whole life, everything has just been boring, boring, boring. But things start to look up when the Jewells'' Holiday Rambler makes a wrong turn and gets stuck in the mud, trapping Elvis and his five rowdy siblings in Fayette for who knows how long. Popeye has never met anyone like Elvis Jewell. He''s so good at swearing he makes Uncle Dooley look like a harp-strumming angel, and he says "So what?" like he really means it. Then something curious comes floating down the creek—a series of boats with secret messages—and it sends Popeye and Elvis into the big world on the hunt for a small adventure. Don''t miss Barbara O''Connor''s other heartwarming middle-grade titles: Wish Wonderland How to Steal a Dog Greetings from Nowhere Beethoven in Paradise Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester On the Road to Mr. Mineo’s Halfway to Harmony Dream

From the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Wish A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year This inspiring, humorous title from Barbara O’Connor is perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo. All her life, the only thing Bird has ever wanted is to be noticed in her small town and to get to Disney World. As it turns out, Bird could have a chance to realize at least one of her goals because of a state spelling bee, and she might get to make a friend along the way—a boy named Harlem Tate who has just moved to Freedom. Harlem seems like a kindred spirit—someone like Bird, whom people don''t usually take the time to find the good in. (Unless it''s someone like Miss Delphine, who always makes Bird feel special.) But as much as Bird tries to get his attention, Harlem is not easily won over. Then Harlem agrees to be her partner in the spelling bee, and if they study hard enough, the two might just win everything Bird''s always wanted. Don''t miss Barbara O''Connor''s other heartwarming middle-grade titles: Wish Wonderland How to Steal a Dog Greetings from Nowhere Beethoven in Paradise The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis On the Road to Mr. Mineo''s Halfway to Harmony and Dream, the standalone companion to Wish, coming to bookstores on 8/26/25!

In North Carolina''s Great Smoky Mountains, a troubled boy and his mother, a happy family seeking adventure, a man and his lonely daughter, and the widow who must sell the run-down motel that has been her home for decades, meet and are transformed by their shared experiences.

Don''t miss Barbara O''Connor''s other middle-grade work—like Wish; How to Steal a Dog; Greetings from Nowhere; Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia; The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester; and more! From Barbara O''Connor, the New York Times-bestselling author of Wish, comes a big-hearted story about the meaning of friendship, the challenges of growing up, and one lovable runaway dog. Mavis Jeeter is fearless and bold, but she has never lived in one place long enough to have a real best friend. Her flighty mother has uprooted them again to another new home and taken a job as a housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis wants this home to be permanent—which means finding herself a best friend. Rose Tully is a worrier who feels like she doesn’t quite fit in with the other girls in her neighborhood. Her closest friend is Mr. Duffy, but he hasn’t been himself since his dog died. Rose may have to break a few of her mother’s many rules to help Mr. Duffy—and find someone who really understands her. Henry has run away from home, but he craves kindness and comfort—and doesn’t know where to look for them. When Mavis and Rose hatch a scheme to find Mr. Duffy a new dog, their lives and Henry’s intersect—and they all come to find friendship in places they never expected.

A New York Times bestseller! The highly anticipated follow up to Wish, which has spent six years on the New York Times bestseller list and is beloved by over two million readers. Dream follows a small town girl with big aspirations who discovers that anything is possible with your best friends and an adorable pup by your side! The sky is the limit. Idalee Lovett is content with her life in small-town Colby, North Carolina, living in her family’s huge house with rooms for rent. But she has big dreams, just like her mama. While Mama is on tour for the summer with her cover band, Lovey Lovett and the Junkyard Dogs, Idalee decides to hone her craft as a songwriter—since her truest wish is to hear her country songs on the radio one day. When the local radio station announces a songwriting contest with the winning song being recorded by an up-and-coming singer, Idalee is determined to win. It would definitely be possible if only she could buy the shiny blue guitar in Asheville’s music shop. Idalee doesn’t have much money, but she knows exactly how to get it—the long-lost treasure her late granddaddy hid somewhere in their house. With the help of her friends Odell, Howard, Charlie, and an adorable little dog named Wishbone, Idalee is going to search in every nook and cranny until she finds it. But little does she know, the biggest treasure of all is only discovered when you believe in yourself with your whole heart. In this standalone companion to the #1 New York Times bestseller Wish, nothing is impossible as Idalee learns the power of chasing her dreams one guitar strum at a time.

Twelve-year-old Pearl feels hurt, confused, and unwanted when her wild, irresponsible mother leaves her with Aunt Ivy in a little country house in Georgia and then disappears.

A heartfelt middle-grade novel from New York Times bestselling author Barbara O’Connor about a boy whose life is upended after the loss of his older brother—timeless, classic, and whimsical. Walter Tipple is looking for adventure. He keeps having a dream that his big brother, Tank, appears before him and says, “Let’s you and me go see my world, little man.” But Tank went to the army and never came home, and Walter doesn’t know how to see the world without him. Then he meets Posey, the brash new girl from next door, and an eccentric man named Banjo, who’s off on a bodacious adventure of his own. What follows is a summer of taking chances, becoming braver, and making friends—and maybe Walter can learn who he wants to be without the brother he always wanted to be like. Halfway to Harmony is an utterly charming story about change and growing up. Don''t miss Barbara O''Connor''s other middle-grade work—like Wish; Wonderland; How to Steal a Dog; Greetings from Nowhere; Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia; The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester; and more!