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stephxsu's review against another edition
3.0
First read in sixth grade for school; then, recently, I picked it up again on a whim, because working in literature education with kids of a similar reading level made me think back to the books I read when they were around their age. I remember finding this book interesting, but a little weird. But my impression of this book seemed to ripen with age until I was convinced it was canonical lit for sixth graders everywhere.
Well, the reread was disappointing. Despite it being written in the nineties, the dialogue already seemed outdated--what was up with the lack of contractions? I thought about it and I don't really think it was a characterization thing because so many of the characters talked that way, without contractions. Back in sixth grade, I thought the Souls were kind of mystical, an elevated species of middle-schooler to be emulated. Now, I just think they're slightly pretentious and contrived. There was falsity ringing from the pages, and it was disappointing for me to discover that the magic I had attributed to this novel may not have been there all along.
Well, the reread was disappointing. Despite it being written in the nineties, the dialogue already seemed outdated--what was up with the lack of contractions? I thought about it and I don't really think it was a characterization thing because so many of the characters talked that way, without contractions. Back in sixth grade, I thought the Souls were kind of mystical, an elevated species of middle-schooler to be emulated. Now, I just think they're slightly pretentious and contrived. There was falsity ringing from the pages, and it was disappointing for me to discover that the magic I had attributed to this novel may not have been there all along.
sallyavena's review against another edition
4.0
A fun read about four kids in 6th grade that come together to form a quiz bowl team but also come together as friends and end up helping each other on a "journey". As a team they also help their teacher start her "journey". A little hard to follow at times because it jumps from place to place throughout a chapter. Over all, a good book for a soon to be teenager.
kalahcakes's review against another edition
4.0
This was my all-time favorite book in middle school through at least half of high school.
4saradouglas's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was a great book and I really enjoyed it.... BUT I feel like it's written towards a very specific middle school audience. It is not only about a school academic team and their competition, but it is written towards that kind of intelligent thoughtful student. Anyone not fitting this description will probably be extremely bored by the book.
hnbb's review against another edition
4.0
I was not expecting much from this book and was pleasantly surprised. I would read it over and over. It was a thinking book for middle school age kids.
slichto3's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a sweet and warm book. I really love it. It made me feel that sense of optimism and love that I remember feeling as a child, and that I have, for the most part, completely lost as an adult. The View from Saturday really made me wish I was a different person and lived a different life, in a very positive way. My only complaints were that there wasn't enough of a story. There was so much more room for development of both plot and character. That might be because it's a story meant for children, but it could have been so much more. I also wish that the characters had sounded a bit more different from each other, a bit more distinctive. Because they all sounded pretty similar. Still, a terrific book. Great to read when you're feeling a bit down and cynical about humanity and life.
kitsuneheart's review against another edition
3.0
A slice-of-life story about four kids with interwoven lives. Sort of a "Love, Actually" for tweens. Each gets their own section, focusing on what they did during the school year and vacation, and how they come together as friends and allies on the school quiz team. A bit of focus is also given to their teacher and her struggles against ridicule as a paraplegic.
As for the quality of the book...it has that definite 1980s feel. Odd, given it was published in 1996. But the children are just too twee. They have tea parties and form a little secret club and it all just sounds like something an adult writes to fondly remember a childhood they themselves only ever saw in books, not in real life.
If you have a child looking for a realistic fiction or award-winner recommendation, I suppose put this on your list, but this book would never pop into my head if someone was looking for a general recommendation.
As for the quality of the book...it has that definite 1980s feel. Odd, given it was published in 1996. But the children are just too twee. They have tea parties and form a little secret club and it all just sounds like something an adult writes to fondly remember a childhood they themselves only ever saw in books, not in real life.
If you have a child looking for a realistic fiction or award-winner recommendation, I suppose put this on your list, but this book would never pop into my head if someone was looking for a general recommendation.