The King of Slippery Falls » (Unabridged)

Lewis Hinton is in pursuit of two things--an elusive giant trout & his true identity. His adoptive parents, Martha & Avery Hinton, know they must let him search for clues about his past. His eccentric neighbor, Mrs Baderhoovernisterah, advises him to heed the plot twisters in life. His best friend, Amanda Dot, just wants him to fall in love w/ her. And the townspeople of Slippery Falls are determined to discover if the letter from Lewis's birth mother confirms the rumor--Is he descended from French royalty? Could this simple boy from Idaho really be a king?

Amie Rose Rotruck - Children's Literature

When Lewis Hinton finds out that he was adopted, things start changing in his life quickly. His parents reveal that a woman handed Lewis to them, along with a letter, and then ran away. The only clues Lewis has to his mother's identity is the fact that she had an accent and the letter mentions that his name is Louis Poisson. When Lewis finds out that his name may imply that he is a decedent of King Louis the Fifteenth and his mistress Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, the news spreads quickly around the small town of Slippery Falls. People start treating Lewis like he is royalty and he does not like the extra attention. Lewis's search for his identity parallels his search for a fabled fish of Slippery Falls. An accident while looking for the elusive fish helps the town pull together and help send Lewis on his way to find his roots. The tone of this book is unique; it reads like a fairly tale in some parts, yet it is always grounded in reality. A truly refreshing look at adoption and how it affects children. 2004, Scholastic, Ages 12 up.