The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester - by Barbara O'Connor (Paperback)

About the Book

Once you've finally captured the most enormous frog in Carter, Georgia, what exactly are you supposed to do with it?

Book Synopsis

From Barbara O'Connor, the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Wish, comes a book about new friends, a frog, and an unforgettable summer. Perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo.

An amazing secret has tumbled off a freight train into Carter, Georgia, and Owen Jester is the only person who knows about it. If he can simply manage to evade his grandfather's snappish housekeeper, organize his two best friends, and keep his nosy neighbor, Viola, at bay, he just might be in for the summer of a lifetime. With her trademark wit and easy charm, Barbara O'Connor spins a fantastic fable of friends, enemies, and superbly slimy bullfrogs.

Don't miss Barbara O'Connor's other heartwarming middle-grade titles:
Wish
Wonderland
How to Steal a Dog
Greetings from Nowhere
Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia
Halfway to Harmony
and Dream, the standalone companion to Wish, coming to bookstores on 8/26/25!

Review Quotes

"O'Connor has perfect pitch with this comic adventure, which ends with a happy resolution everyone, even the frog, can live with." --New York Times Book Review

"O'Connor masterfully twists the two plot threads--Owen's gradual realization that Tooley must be released, and the children's Fitzcarraldo-like mission to move the submarine through brush to pond--into a fully convincing tale pitched perfectly to the upper elementary grades." --BCCB, Starred Review

"This well-crafted novel creates a charming mix of the commonplace and the extraordinary. . . . Appealing and authentic, this tale of summertime adventure will be a hit with readers year round." --School Library Journal, Starred Review

"O'Connor has spun a lovely read that perfectly captures the schemes and plans of school-age kids in the long days of summer." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"With a quiet sensitivity, O'Connor explores the effects of unemployment and relocating and the joys of both longtime companions and new, unexpected friendships. Filled with charm and wonder, this finely crafted novel reminds readers of the mysteries to be found in childhood and the outdoors." --BookPage

". . . the story is smoothly written, the secret is ingenious and believable, and who can resist a frog named Tooley Graham?" --Booklist

"O'Connor's funny, triumphant tale reveals the wisdom of listening to one's inner voice over the noise of one's peers." --Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Barbara O'Connor is the author of numerous acclaimed books for children, including Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia; Me and Rupert Goody; Greetings from Nowhere and How to Steal a Dog. She has been awarded the Parents' Choice Gold and Silver Awards, the Massachusetts Book Award, and the Dolly Gray Award, among many honors. As a child, she loved dogs, salamanders, tap dancing, school, and even homework. Her favorite days were when the bookmobile came to town. She was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, and now lives in Duxbury, Massachusetts, a historic seaside village not far from Plymouth Rock.