HELP! I'm looking for the title of a youth fiction

[mikelgb]

The fiction topic board does not get a lot of views so I thought I'd fish here to see if anybody can divine the title and/or author of a book based on this:

I need help remembering the title of a book I read in 4th grade and would like to revisit. That means it must have been published before 1993. My best guess would be between 1960 and 1985. Here are plot points or details I remember:

- a boy is in class and is called to the principals office
- when he enters the principal's office he is in another dimension
- he soon is given or finds a plate that will materialize any food he speaks
- I believe his quest is to vanquish a wolf or dog-like creature
- To do this he must adventure to find three strands and combine them to form a special weapon
- One of the strands is obtained from a woman who gives him a satchel. At first the boy is disappointed that he did not obtain a strand as expected from the woman but then he realizes the string that is around the satchel is one of the strands

cover:
I remember a cream or light yellow colored hardcover book with a red sun a wolf creature and a mountain in black outline I think

I hope this is enough information to elicit a title from someone who may have read the book.

Thanks for your help DU Lounge.

Original Post:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=208x10890

[mikelgb]

1. anybody?

[sakabatou]

2. I know the story

unfortunately, not the title. Sorry.

[mikelgb]

4. can you give me anything else you remember from it to help jog my memeory?

anything at all?

[sakabatou]

5. Wrong person to ask

I have encephalitis.

[mikelgb]

7. please

:shrug:

[sakabatou]

8. I know I've heard and read it

I've listened to it being read... but the title... I'm sorry.

[mikelgb]

9. any other details?

character names?

any more settings?

More about the villan?

just anything that I haven't listed that you remember?

[sakabatou]

10. No

Sorry. T'was a long, long time ago.

[hyphenate]

3. I'm afraid I can't help you

But there was a literature board a while back that helped me with a title--I'm not sure if it was this one, but try www.alibris.com. You should also try some keywords at amazon to see if that will work. If not, try http://used.addall.com and enter keywords to see if that search engine works.

I would also tell you to get the information telephone # for the New York City Library, because they always have a lot of trivia requests, and they might be able to help.

Perhaps check out some titles from some juvenile SF/fantasy authors like Mercedes Lackey, Patricia McKillip, Madeleine L'Engle, or other similar authors. That's about all I can think of.

[emmadoggy]

6. Sorry, no help but..

I'm having the same problem. I read a book in 7th grade literature that I remember really liking. At this point I don't remember much about it and can no longer remember the title or author, but I'd like to track it down too.

It was about a woman who is from or ends up in Canada somehow, meets and falls in love with a Canadian Mounty. They get married and most of the book is about their adventures traveling the Yukon for his line of work. It is set somewhat in the past - maybe 50's?? I was in 7th grade in '79-80 so it was published prior to then, and I think it had been around for at least a few years.
I remember the cover being mostly white and snowy looking with the hero & heroine on the cover, I think? I swear the title was something like, "The Great...????" or something with the word "white" or damn... I don't know. :shrug: Wish I could remember more.

Sorry, I can't help you with your book search. Good luck!

[zingaro]

13. Is this the book?

http://www.amazon.ca/Mrs-Mike-Benedict-Freedman/dp/customer-reviews/0425183238

Mrs. Mike, by Benedict Freedman?

[emmadoggy]

16. OMG! Yes!!!

Thank you so much! I cannot tell you how much it has been bugging me trying to remember it! The cover shown there is different from the one used at the time I read it, but based on the descriptions there, that's the one.

I'm sure if I were to read it today, it wouldn't be nearly as good, but I just remember really enjoying it at the time. I also loved Bridge to Terabithia, which is now a movie! I didn't realize the book was still that popular. Island of the Blue Dolphins was a wonderful book too. I have a young daughter (too young for these books yet) and as she gets older, I'm hoping to pass along some of these favorite books to her.

Anyway, thanks again!! I feel so much better now! LOL.

[zingaro]

17. You're welcome!

And I hear you on the passing down of books. My daughter is just beginning to grow into really reading and it's so much fun to go to the library with her now.

Glad it was the right one. :hi:

[murielm99]

14. I am having a similar problem.

I read a book in sixth grade that was really good satire and fantasy. It does have elements that appear in other stories, but I liked this one particularly.

I want to know the author and title. Even if it is out of print, maybe I can find it somewhere.

In this book, a girl name Annabelle Potts (I think -- I think this may be part of the title, too) refuses to live with her parents. She lives down the road with a lady who has lots of kids. Potts is not Annabelle's real name. It is the name of the family she chooses to live with. She lives there because of a closet. In the back of the closet is a bridge to a castle. When people cross the bridge, they become miniaturized, before they go into the castle.
Annabelle brings her little brother and sister to the castle.

Any child who goes to the castle turns into a spoiled brat. A neighbor knows something about the castle. She seems like a flighty person, but she is not. She goes to the castle, but bypasses the bridge and remains large.

The book is actually good satire about family relations. I wish I could find it.

[deadparrot]

11. Can't help you personally, but

if you have (or register for) a LiveJournal account, you can join this community, which might help you out:

http://community.livejournal.com/whatwasthatbook

[emmadoggy]

12. Thanks!

:)

edited: Oops! Guess you weren't replying to me - but thanks from me too!

[deadparrot]

15. Hey, no problem...

I hope you find it helpful. :hi:

[mikelgb]

18. Kick

still waiting for someone to help me

I see someone else got their book, congrats

[mikelgb]

19. anybody got anything?