Although the historical novel for the juvenile and young adult crowd seems to be going the way of the dodo (I expect mainly because the world has become so urbanized and suburbanized that kids can’t imagine what small town living was like in the 1950s — or earlier as in this novel), I still find the occasional book to share with my nine-year-old that really rings true.
Darleen Bailey Beard’s Operation Clean Sweep is one of those. It has the honest and wholesome goodness of The Andy Griffith Show but still manages to play out the push and shove of real emotions over real problems for youngsters.
I settled down to read this one to my son because it’s on the Oklahoma Sequoyah list this year, and I’m surprised I hadn’t found it earlier. It debuted in 2004.
Cornelius, "Corn" to his friends, is a welcome and genuine narrator in this story based on real political events early in the 20th century. It’s 1916 and women haven’t get been given the vote nationally, but a few states and territories have allowed them to vote. The world is already changing far faster than anyone at that time realizes.
Corn's dad is the town mayor, but he doesn't know that the women in town are tired of dragging their dresses through chicken poop in the streets and stepping over holes in the wooden sidewalks. Bailey paints a picturesque image of the town and the citizens. All of it feels real.
Unknown to any men in town, a coup plot takes shape among the women, as they intend to run for office. Corn is astounded to learn that. But even worse is the fact hat his mom is going to run AGAINST his dad for mayor.
Operation Clean Sweep lends itself to being read aloud to young listeners. The writing is tight and clean. Corn's troubles are the kind that every kid goes through, and he relates them in a matter-of-fact kind of way that's endearing. His infatuation with Birdine is warm and funny, and progresses naturally. The conversations Corn has with his mom and dad are good, full of values without being preachy.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States. Nice work!