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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
3.5 stars: Not as good as I had hoped. Well written, but just not my favorite!
The latest Newbery Award winner, and one that almost no one predicted or even heard of, I went into this one mostly blind. And for the first 50 pages, I had no clue where it was going. It is a one of those "get to know all the crazy characters in a small town" books. I was actually hoping that there was more to it than that. Kind of like Holes. It had the same idea of two time periods like Holes only this time The Depression and WWI. WWI gets very little play in literature--it competes against the more-compelling WWII. And there is such great stuff--the war, Prohibition, labor disputes, and the flu epidemic. So after it finally caught my attention, it was a good run to the end. Mostly predictable but with a twist or two at the end. The main character, however, was only half as interesting as other recent heroines like Flavia de Luce or Calpurnia Tate.
Not my favorite Newbery by far, but I am not outraged it won the prize. It fits right in with the rest of them and is a solid contribution to the list.
Not my favorite Newbery by far, but I am not outraged it won the prize. It fits right in with the rest of them and is a solid contribution to the list.
I absolutely love this book!! It is so sweet and definitely a feel good story. I was worried in the beginning because there were so many mysteries that Abilene kept uncovering and I wasn't sure that everything would be wrapped up in the end. Not only was everything wrapped up well I was so satisfied. I loved all the characters as well. I had such an easy time identifying with everyone and loving them. But I also hated the characters that I was supposed to hate. And I felt a little guilty for hating Mrs. Larkin in the end. That may have been my favorite twist. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves youth fiction and feel-good stories.
On my third try, I finally finished this book! I made it through the audiobook, even though I was tempted to quit a bunch of times.
So. This book. Jeez. I can't even begin to imagine what Newbery deliberations must have been like the year it was chosen as the Medal winner. Let me break it down:
1. I would never have finished it if it wasn't a Newbery winner. It's way, way too long (my primary complaint) and way too full of cliches (of the both the Newbery and historical fiction variety). I would rather read [b:Turtle in Paradise|6871737|Turtle in Paradise|Jennifer L. Holm|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406889760s/6871737.jpg|7088141] or [b:One Crazy Summer|6609764|One Crazy Summer (Gaither Sisters, #1)|Rita Williams-Garcia|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388201603s/6609764.jpg|6803731] any day of the week.
2. Still, I will gladly say that the writing was good and the story eventually found some footing and held my interest. It just occurs to me that this would have been a lot better if the 1936 story had been left out (or cut way down) and we had just heard the 1918 story because that's what really drew me in.
3. Of the two reveals that happen at the end of the book, one was completely obvious to me from the beginning and the other seemed to come out of nowhere and defy logic.
4. My issues with this book are similar to my issues with [b:Navigating Early|13642663|Navigating Early|Clare Vanderpool|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340194887s/13642663.jpg|19257738], which I suppose means that Clare Vanderpool and I are not compatible. I can admire her talents and at the same time know that her books are not up my alley.
So. This book. Jeez. I can't even begin to imagine what Newbery deliberations must have been like the year it was chosen as the Medal winner. Let me break it down:
1. I would never have finished it if it wasn't a Newbery winner. It's way, way too long (my primary complaint) and way too full of cliches (of the both the Newbery and historical fiction variety). I would rather read [b:Turtle in Paradise|6871737|Turtle in Paradise|Jennifer L. Holm|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406889760s/6871737.jpg|7088141] or [b:One Crazy Summer|6609764|One Crazy Summer (Gaither Sisters, #1)|Rita Williams-Garcia|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388201603s/6609764.jpg|6803731] any day of the week.
2. Still, I will gladly say that the writing was good and the story eventually found some footing and held my interest. It just occurs to me that this would have been a lot better if the 1936 story had been left out (or cut way down) and we had just heard the 1918 story because that's what really drew me in.
3. Of the two reveals that happen at the end of the book, one was completely obvious to me from the beginning and the other seemed to come out of nowhere and defy logic.
Spoiler
Did any reader ever doubt that Jinks was Gideon? Does it seem at all plausible that a woman with no resources could track down a son she hasn't seen in years across a great big foreign country?4. My issues with this book are similar to my issues with [b:Navigating Early|13642663|Navigating Early|Clare Vanderpool|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340194887s/13642663.jpg|19257738], which I suppose means that Clare Vanderpool and I are not compatible. I can admire her talents and at the same time know that her books are not up my alley.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked how this all came together in the end. However, the first half of the book I really wasn't into it so I'm only giving it 3 stars.
Took a while to get into, but a little like When You Reach me. Clues come together as the story switched back and forth between 1917/18 and 1936. The time period and the main character, Abilene, are fun to get to know. The author has written some thoughtful nuggets if truth throughout the book as well. The mystery will probably intrigue solid readers, or could be enjoyed by all as a read aloud.
Very interesting story. I enjoyed the interweaving of past and present and how the people's stories weaved in and out of each other. I enjoyed this one a great deal.
2011 Newbery Winner
Told in a dual narrative, this captivating historical fiction novel explores the life of residents of a small Kansas mining town, Manifest, during both WWI and the Great Depression. The story primarily follows Abilene, a young girl who is spending the summer in Manifest during the depression. A second story line, set almost twenty years earlier, weaves itself into the novel as a story told by one of the townsfolk Abilene encounters.
This is a story about life, love, and finding your place in the world. It's a story about acceptance of others and acceptance of yourself. And above all it's a story about the power of stories.
The plot is great, the characters are great, the historical setting feels accurate and is informative without being dry or confusing for readers. Overall this is just an all around great book.
Told in a dual narrative, this captivating historical fiction novel explores the life of residents of a small Kansas mining town, Manifest, during both WWI and the Great Depression. The story primarily follows Abilene, a young girl who is spending the summer in Manifest during the depression. A second story line, set almost twenty years earlier, weaves itself into the novel as a story told by one of the townsfolk Abilene encounters.
This is a story about life, love, and finding your place in the world. It's a story about acceptance of others and acceptance of yourself. And above all it's a story about the power of stories.
The plot is great, the characters are great, the historical setting feels accurate and is informative without being dry or confusing for readers. Overall this is just an all around great book.
slow-paced