The Tin Snail

Gr 4–7—Originally published in the UK, The Tin Snail is the story of a little car—and village—that could. The novel, set in 1940s France, is narrated by 13-year-old Angelo, who pins his hopes for his parents' marriage and his father's automobile company on a car he and his father will design for the "common people." The journey from the drawing board to the realized car traverses as many ruts and bumps as the car is designed to withstand. But Angelo never loses faith—even when the Nazis come sniffing around hoping to find the prototype of the "people's car." McAllister's novel is partially based on true stories, and readers will enjoy looking up facts about the real Tin Snail. The author's experience as a scriptwriter is evident in the well-crafted plot and pacing; scenes seem camera-ready. McAllister effectively turns what could have been a humdrum story about car design into a real page-turner and a daring tale of the French spirit. Angelo is likable, even when he's causing a catastrophe. Even the dissolution of Angelo's parents' marriage and his reaction to it are handled deftly and honestly.