Scan barcode
brandypainter's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
It's a new Hilary McKay novel!!! That is really as long as this review needs to be right? It should be. But alas, some of you may not know about the wonderful Hilary McKay so I'll tell you a bit more. Binny for Short is wonderful, a terrific read for summer, or anytime you need a little summer in your life.
Anyone who has read McKay before will feel comfortable within the pages of this book. It is so nice to start a story, sit back, and know your in the hands of an author you can trust. Those unfamiliar with McKay are in for a treat as they discover the wonderful characters she creates and the stories she builds around them. Binny's story starts out pretty dire. Her father has died, her dog has been moved to parts unknown, and nothing is as it was. Binny is haunted by the hole her missing dog left in her life. She is haunted by how much less she can remember her father than her dog. She believes she is being literally haunted by her mean Aunt Violet who has left them her house. Binny is so delightfully 11, and I say that without any sarcasm. Gareth, whose family owns the house next door, becomes her instant frenemy. He is oh so obnoxious, doesn't like anything, and yet you can't help but want to hug him. He and Binny have some great adventures.
As always in true McKay style this is a perfect sibling story. Clem, Binny's older sister, and James, her crazy younger brother, play large roles and their personalities take up just as much space as Binny's. Their mother is stressed and overworked so the kids have to work together to help her out and take of each other.
The seaside village where the family moves is wonderful too. McKay brought it to life in so many wonderful ways. One can almost smell the salty fishy air and feel the sea breeze as one reads. Everything about the place, from the quaint diner to the tourist robbing seal boat to the seals themselves, give the reader a definite sense of place.
And can I also say, while trying to avoid outright spoilers, in a world where so many MG books feature tragically dead dogs this is a nice breath of fresh air.
I read an e-galley received from Simon & Schuster via Edelweiss. Binny for Short will be available for purchase on July 23.
It's a new Hilary McKay novel!!! That is really as long as this review needs to be right? It should be. But alas, some of you may not know about the wonderful Hilary McKay so I'll tell you a bit more. Binny for Short is wonderful, a terrific read for summer, or anytime you need a little summer in your life.
Anyone who has read McKay before will feel comfortable within the pages of this book. It is so nice to start a story, sit back, and know your in the hands of an author you can trust. Those unfamiliar with McKay are in for a treat as they discover the wonderful characters she creates and the stories she builds around them. Binny's story starts out pretty dire. Her father has died, her dog has been moved to parts unknown, and nothing is as it was. Binny is haunted by the hole her missing dog left in her life. She is haunted by how much less she can remember her father than her dog. She believes she is being literally haunted by her mean Aunt Violet who has left them her house. Binny is so delightfully 11, and I say that without any sarcasm. Gareth, whose family owns the house next door, becomes her instant frenemy. He is oh so obnoxious, doesn't like anything, and yet you can't help but want to hug him. He and Binny have some great adventures.
As always in true McKay style this is a perfect sibling story. Clem, Binny's older sister, and James, her crazy younger brother, play large roles and their personalities take up just as much space as Binny's. Their mother is stressed and overworked so the kids have to work together to help her out and take of each other.
The seaside village where the family moves is wonderful too. McKay brought it to life in so many wonderful ways. One can almost smell the salty fishy air and feel the sea breeze as one reads. Everything about the place, from the quaint diner to the tourist robbing seal boat to the seals themselves, give the reader a definite sense of place.
And can I also say, while trying to avoid outright spoilers, in a world where so many MG books feature tragically dead dogs this is a nice breath of fresh air.
I read an e-galley received from Simon & Schuster via Edelweiss. Binny for Short will be available for purchase on July 23.
amber_hastings's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Nobody does quirky, eccentric, complex characters like this author! This book felt a bit more plot-driven and structured than the Cassons, and almost as lovable as them. The ending was so clever. It took all this time to really understand that Binny missing Max was just as much about missing her dad.
I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the narration.
I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the narration.
we_are_all_mad_here26's review against another edition
4.0
Cute story, likeable yet realistic characters, the right amount of humor versus gravity. I loved that Binny told her Aunty Violet, "I hope you're next.". At a funeral. Yes, it did wrap up very nicely, but I personally thought that was very, well, nice.
snazel's review against another edition
5.0
What an exceptional contemporary middle grade, in one of my favourite sub-genres, family-entered stories. An excellent book.
octygon's review against another edition
4.0
Such a sweet book. However, I do think the age group at which it is aimed might find the construction a little confusing.
tcbueti's review against another edition
5.0
As always, a wonderful portrayal of a family dealing with some serious things in an quirky, sensitive and often funny way.
Great sense of place: a seaside town, with the pier, tide pools, tour boats--with handsome teen guide--and cafe.
People deal with grief in their own way. For Binny, losing her dad seems to be less awful then losing her dog, Max, afterwards. Maybe because someone (Aunty Violet) DID that--and it could possibly be remedied?
Love the idea of having an "enemy"--someone whose feelings you don't have to protect. And the description of how 2 people can have the exact same experience (seeing an adder) and in their minds it's something completely different.
Great sense of place: a seaside town, with the pier, tide pools, tour boats--with handsome teen guide--and cafe.
People deal with grief in their own way. For Binny, losing her dad seems to be less awful then losing her dog, Max, afterwards. Maybe because someone (Aunty Violet) DID that--and it could possibly be remedied?
Love the idea of having an "enemy"--someone whose feelings you don't have to protect. And the description of how 2 people can have the exact same experience (seeing an adder) and in their minds it's something completely different.
quietjenn's review against another edition
4.0
If there's anyone who writes better modern-day family stories than Hilary McKay, I don't know who it is. Very true and funny and poignant and the whole shebang.
gschwabauer's review against another edition
5.0
Re-reading this book for the third time, all I really wanted was to step through the pages and live in a little seaside town, to stand by the ocean as the wind whips up droplets of water and to ride out on a seal boat and to go biking up the craggy coast and to roast marshmallows over a backyard fire surrounded by overgrown green and to scrub down the floorboards of an ancient house and then sleep in the room I'd been scrubbing. The details are just so vivid. McKay's voice, as always, is flawless, and her characters come alive. (James wins the aware for Best Younger Sibling In Literature.)
The odd little non-linear sections add to the story rather than detracting. The emotions of the conclusion work on me every single time. Part of me misses being eleven years old and having a friend-enemy like Gareth. Plus, the entire chicken subplot is just so dang funny.
The odd little non-linear sections add to the story rather than detracting. The emotions of the conclusion work on me every single time. Part of me misses being eleven years old and having a friend-enemy like Gareth. Plus, the entire chicken subplot is just so dang funny.
nairam1173's review
4.0
Delightful. Hilary McKay understands, and loves, children in all their imperfections.
fionaaaaaa's review against another edition
4.0
What a lovely story. I loved following Binny and her adventures. I was captivated and couldn't stop reading, until I had finished the book. Such a fun tale. I enjoyed reading about Binny, such a strong character. I am glad everything worked out for her.