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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a pretty weird book that I failed to connect with, possibly because it required more suspension of disbelief than I was willing to offer. Unlike other E.B. White books I've read, this didn't have much of a narrative arc; it was more a series of loosely connected vignettes about a very tiny man (boy?) who looks like a mouse but can speak to both humans and animals from the time he is born (and also the other humans and animals can talk to each other?). Basically White created this odd world that he didn't bother explaining much, and then played around with some things that might happen in said world, and then that was the end. I was disappointed.
I have kept this book on my shelf forever. It actually contains my childish signature and the date February 21, 1991.... So I thought it might be good to read aloud to my five year old. I am really wishing now that I had pre-read it because I keep having to edit things. This first couple chapters are fun- the ship race, the ring down the drain, meeting Margalo... But then Stuart just up and leaves on this road trip and things get weird. An invisible car, telling school children everything they've been taught is nonsense, a miniature human girl... And what happened to Stuart's family? Did he ever tell them where he went? Do they care? Does he care? Why have I kept this book for ever 20 years? Because now I can't just get rid of it after holding onto it for this long, can I? This book is just terrible. Don't waste your time.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
All three of my kids were invested in this E.B. White classic until the very end. They were all disappointed in how it ended, however. It made for good discussion though asking them what adventures may have happened next for Stuart.
Not a favorite we’ll repeat but glad we read it together all the same.
Not a favorite we’ll repeat but glad we read it together all the same.
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
I am afraid that I didn't like this book much.
I know it had magical realism elements but it was too far fetched for me. I found Stuart's family to be not that nice, in that there were situations they put him in that no one would do so.
I just couldn't connect at all with the characters.
I know it had magical realism elements but it was too far fetched for me. I found Stuart's family to be not that nice, in that there were situations they put him in that no one would do so.
I just couldn't connect at all with the characters.