Onion John is about a normal 12 year-old boy in conflict with his father over his friendship with an unusual friend, Onion John. Onion John is a homeless man that doesn't speak English. However, Onion John knows about nature, and meditation. The boy convinces the town to build Onion John a home, and the project brings the entire community together. Unfortunately, the community wants to build Onion John a 'regular respectful house' and Onion John likes his wood stove and having his bathtub in the living room. This is a classic coming of age tale about the first time a boy realizes that his dad is wrong about something, the first time the boy makes his own decision. Eventually his father understands that his son is growing up. ( )

I think, if I was 50 years older, I would really appreciate this coming-of-age story and its gentle humor. The conversations sounded so stilted to me, though, and the relationship between Andy and his dad was so strange and dated. I did like Onion John's crazy ideas, and the message of not forcing your ideas on someone else. This book couldn't be written today (can you imagine a story about a weird man who befriends local boys?), but it was probably pretty cool for its time. ( )