Until Tomorrow, Mr. Marsworth

Gr 4–6—When her mother passes away, Reenie and her family go to live with her grandmother. To help her adjust, Reenie starts a paper route with her older brother Dare. As she begins to introduce herself to the people on her route, she meets a hermit named Mr. Marsworth. Slowly, the two become pen pals. When Reenie tells the elderly man that her older brother Billy wants to enlist to fight in the Vietnam War, Mr. Marsworth helps her concoct a plan to keep him home. Despite Reenie feeling more mature than a typical 11-year-old, O'Connor's characters are intriguing and easy to love. References to pop culture (the Beetles) and historical events (the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.) are peppered throughout Reenie's letters. O'Connor also incorporates opposing attitudes toward the Vietnam War into the narrative. The plot is well developed and the author throws some interesting curve balls into the story that keep readers engaged and wanting more. However, the epistolary format may be a turn off for some students.