"He said, My house is bigger than your house.
The girl said, That's true.
At school I am the smartest, said Junior.
Hmm.
Junior wasn't sure about all these Hmms."
When readers open this book and see the fenced yard and large house sitting precariously on the top of a mountain, they will definitely want to know what is happening here. Turn to the title page, and see that house facing another mountain across a gorge from it. The house's perspective has changed ... from large to quite a lot smaller when compared with the size of the two mountains.
The tale then begins with a newborn wailing, and an echo being born to reflect the sound back to the house that is home to Junior Junior. It is the beginning of a long relationship between that boy and the echo; from first word, to jealousy, to repeating everything Junior Junior says about himself to make him feel smarter and more powerful. A friendship begins. The praise continues, until the day a girl moves in next door.
Junior makes an attempt at friendship. The girl shows some reluctance, as she listens to his boasting. The conversation continues, always led by Junior and always pertaining to himself. When he points to the brightest star in the sky, he is told it is a planet. Of course, she must be wrong and Junior lets her know what he thinks. She remains quiet, not arguing or giving way to what she knows is true.
The disagreement lasts, and Junior needs an apology as he is sure she is wrong.
"There's nothing wrong with being wrong,
she said. I admit it when I am. But I'm not."
Junior turns to the echo for reassurance, and gets it. When a book reveals the truth, Junior is ready to pack up and run away. He wants a meeting with his echo. It is a trek to get to their meeting place. That meeting is fine, until it isn't. It takes very little time until Junior becomes bored with their conversation and realizes the echo has to be right about everything. A slight change in their conversation sends Junior home, and back to the girl.
Not sure what to say, he admires her sandcastle. He offers an apology, she accepts, and the two are able to forge a new and lasting friendship.
Adam Rex's digital artwork gives life to the characters and the mountainous setting for their story. The message is treated with humor, offering an acceptance that it is okay to be wrong, and an understanding that friendship will not always be easy.
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