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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
At times, it felt like something of a mix of [b:Jellicoe Road|7891257|Jellicoe Road|Melina Marchetta|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1270172724s/7891257.jpg|6479100] and [b:To Kill a Mockingbird|2657|To Kill a Mockingbird|Harper Lee|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1234606708s/2657.jpg|3275794].
Further thoughts and review here at my new Newbery Medal book blog, http://newberynosh.blogspot.com.
Further thoughts and review here at my new Newbery Medal book blog, http://newberynosh.blogspot.com.
I wanted to love this, but it was just okay for me. I read it sporadically, since I had a few other books going at the same time and I think that messed up the flow for me. I read the last 100 pages all together though and finally felt better connected to the story. The audio reader is really good, I've liked her from some other audio books (The Help, Shiver series). I did like the historical setting in Kansas - both 1918 and 1936 time period.
Yeah it won the Newbery. Fine. Wonderful. It wasn't that good. It was a typical children's historical fiction. Depression era and WWI, a two-fer! So not only was everyone poor but someone dies too! Honestly, where is the appeal to kids? I understand we're honoring the best in children's books but I feel that the best should also have some appeal to kids. Will there be kids into this, yes, obviously. Will it be easy to give it to a kid. No. It's not like When You Reach Me or Graveyard Book. There's no universal hook that I can hand it out with. "You'll love this because you love depressing stories with uplifting endings?" Okay, I'm done ranting about things I probably don't know enough about.
I am partial to reviews by bloggers I trust and I tend to put a lot of stock in them. I actually first came across Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool through a review on Bunbury In The Stacks. Heidi, the reviewer, basically pointed out why Moon Over Manifest is so awesome and one of the things she noted was nuns and you guys I cannot resist a nun, ever. Also, this book won a Newbury award. Furthermore, the audiobook narrators are some super star heavyweights as far as audiobooks go. Thus, I was convinced to give this historical fiction middle grade novel a whirl and yo, I was not disappointed in the least.
Read the rest of my review here
Review will be posted November 12, 2013.
Read the rest of my review here
Review will be posted November 12, 2013.
The only thing keeping this book from earning four stars from me was the problematic (but period-appropriate) vocabulary for race and ethnicity used throughout the book. I suppose there is a myriad of opinions on how these terms should be treated in literature (in this book, "Chinaman" and "gypsy" come to mind), but I feel that even if the words are period-appropriate, if they can be avoided, they should. Don't replace them with modern, PC equivalents. Just don't use them. Is it absolutely necessary to the story that a character learned about fireworks from a "Chinaman"? No.
Aside from this issue, I loved this story. I'm fond of both WWI and Great Depression settings, and this book rocked between the two. The characterizations were impeccable, and the tone balanced deftly between whimsy and bleakness. At times, I disliked the first-person narration (as I often do); it often leads the way to too much telling and not enough showing in my opinion, and it did here. But this would have certainly been high on my list of favorites when I was a kid.
Aside from this issue, I loved this story. I'm fond of both WWI and Great Depression settings, and this book rocked between the two. The characterizations were impeccable, and the tone balanced deftly between whimsy and bleakness. At times, I disliked the first-person narration (as I often do); it often leads the way to too much telling and not enough showing in my opinion, and it did here. But this would have certainly been high on my list of favorites when I was a kid.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a slow start for me--a really slow start! I just could not get past the first chunk of the book, and was considering abandoning it, except for that a student recommended this book to me, so I pushed through. And, I was glad I did! Once all of the pieces of the story started intertwining and connecting, I definitely appreciate what the author was doing with this historical fiction that covers WWI, anti-immigration sentiment, worker exploitation and unionization and busting, Great Depression and prohibition and more. There is definitely some dry humor throughout which kept things lively and after the halfway point, I was definitely interested in finding out how the mystery all wrapped up!
Graded By: Meghan
Cover Story: Strut Yr Stuff
BFF Charm: YAY!
Swoonworthy Scale: 0
Talky Talk: Cine-o-matic
Bonus Factors: Cliff Huxtable Award Of Awesome Dadhood, Old Newspapers, Historical Fiction, Moonshine
Relationship Status: Bonded For Life
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Strut Yr Stuff
BFF Charm: YAY!
Swoonworthy Scale: 0
Talky Talk: Cine-o-matic
Bonus Factors: Cliff Huxtable Award Of Awesome Dadhood, Old Newspapers, Historical Fiction, Moonshine
Relationship Status: Bonded For Life
Read the full book report here.
I just adored this book. There is a bit of mystery in this, but I wouldn't classify it as such. In one word - it was sweet. It reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird in the 1st person narration style, but I love the backdrop of small town life. I lived for a while in a small town, and this seemed very on point. Hidden gems made me smile.. the preacher's name is Shady? The undertake is Mr. Underhill? Then some of the articles from Hattie Mae.. priceless! I love that this a YA book not dumbed down, not a vampire to be seen. A sweet, simple story, elegantly told. You can never beat that.
I enjoyed this book. The ending was a bit of a surprise; while I'd pretty much figured out Jinx, Ned's real backstory hadn't occurred to me.
An interesting story about a girl in Southeastern Kansas, exploring a town's history and her own history jumping back and forth between 1936 and 1918. It feels very timely given the themes of immigrants.