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thebrainlair's review against another edition
5.0
My first thoughts on picking up this book were "not another war novel". This year's Newbery hopefuls are replete with them. Helen Frost writes about WWI but I've read about WWII, 9/11, and the War in Kosovo.
Crossing Stones alternates voices but in a way that's not disruptive to the book's overall tone. I found myself understanding both Muriel and Ollie's viewpoint because their characters are well drawn. You understand why they make the choices they do. Muriel is "plucky" but not overbearing and she's also thoughtful.
Mother: I have no intention of becoming the Mrs. Norman of your imaginary future. Who I am remains to be seen - and I alone intend to see it. (p. 15)
Ollie's young but tenderhearted.
To tell the truth, I don't care as much about their lofty goals as I do about
seeing my family again- there's a man on a bike, pedaling into the morning, bringing bread home to his family, I bet. (p. 60)
Through their eyes we also get a sense of the other characters.
The plot had just enough history to make it interesting but not boring. Each poem was like it's own little story within a story. The writing was so vivid and the story moved quickly. Frost didn't just focus on the homefront, what happened to the people left behind, but also gave us a little taste of the warfront as well as the suffragist's movement.
I really enjoyed Crossing Stones and can't wait to find Diamond Willow.
Crossing Stones alternates voices but in a way that's not disruptive to the book's overall tone. I found myself understanding both Muriel and Ollie's viewpoint because their characters are well drawn. You understand why they make the choices they do. Muriel is "plucky" but not overbearing and she's also thoughtful.
Mother: I have no intention of becoming the Mrs. Norman of your imaginary future. Who I am remains to be seen - and I alone intend to see it. (p. 15)
Ollie's young but tenderhearted.
To tell the truth, I don't care as much about their lofty goals as I do about
seeing my family again- there's a man on a bike, pedaling into the morning, bringing bread home to his family, I bet. (p. 60)
Through their eyes we also get a sense of the other characters.
The plot had just enough history to make it interesting but not boring. Each poem was like it's own little story within a story. The writing was so vivid and the story moved quickly. Frost didn't just focus on the homefront, what happened to the people left behind, but also gave us a little taste of the warfront as well as the suffragist's movement.
I really enjoyed Crossing Stones and can't wait to find Diamond Willow.
madmik's review against another edition
2.0
I am, sadly, not as amazed by this book as a lot of other reviewers were. It's a short, good read, but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. Muriel, Frank, Ollie, and Emma are all fascinating characters. I did love Muriel's character development, but I found myself losing interest in the story itself in the last 30 or so pages. It started to become repetitive and somewhat boring. I found myself wanting to skip the poems rather than wanting to read them. Do bear in mind that I'm not a fan of World War I stories in general. I will read them if I have to, but I don't usually enjoy them.
This book does have beautiful language, however. The formatting of the poems constantly got me and there are some really fantastic lines. It's very geared toward feminism and voices thoughts girls still have. I loved those parts about it.
Warnings:
- war
- violence
- missing limbs
- mild cursing
- death
- PTSD
This book does have beautiful language, however. The formatting of the poems constantly got me and there are some really fantastic lines. It's very geared toward feminism and voices thoughts girls still have. I loved those parts about it.
Warnings:
- war
- violence
- missing limbs
- mild cursing
- death
- PTSD
k_paul's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn't sure about any YA poetry books since it wasn't a genre I was familiar with. This book was recommended during class and I wanted to give it a shot. I almost wasn't able to read it since I needed to request it from the library. Luckily, I was able to read it and I wasn't disappointed.
I think this would be a good YA book to teach in school. The poetry isn't hard to read and as a whole, the story is easy to follow. There are some great lessons to learn from within this novel and while it is considered fiction, the events are nonfiction.
Warnings: sex (kissing), R&R (war, opinionated women, feminism is radical, anti-patriotism, women working for drafted men, underage enlisting, espionage act, censorship, loss of limb, PTSD, hunger strike, disease), violence (war, death, assault, force-feeding, prison confinement - terrible conditions)
I think this would be a good YA book to teach in school. The poetry isn't hard to read and as a whole, the story is easy to follow. There are some great lessons to learn from within this novel and while it is considered fiction, the events are nonfiction.
Warnings: sex (kissing), R&R (war, opinionated women, feminism is radical, anti-patriotism, women working for drafted men, underage enlisting, espionage act, censorship, loss of limb, PTSD, hunger strike, disease), violence (war, death, assault, force-feeding, prison confinement - terrible conditions)
m_e_trevi's review against another edition
4.0
We follow Muriel Jorgensen who has grown up next door to the Normans. She is best friends with their daughter, Emma, and everyone expects her to marry their son, Frank. All that changes when he enlists to fight in World War I. We follow the lives of the Normans and the Jorgensens as they face the challenges of war back on the home front.
I didn’t think I would like it as much as I did but Crossing Stones charmed me. Normally I don’t much care for the switching of perspectives but here I really did enjoy seeing the world from all the characters points of view. I was very emotionally invested in the characters. Muriel was relatable as was Emma. It had be snorting with laughter and sniffling. Written in verse, you definitely don’t want to miss it.
I didn’t think I would like it as much as I did but Crossing Stones charmed me. Normally I don’t much care for the switching of perspectives but here I really did enjoy seeing the world from all the characters points of view. I was very emotionally invested in the characters. Muriel was relatable as was Emma. It had be snorting with laughter and sniffling. Written in verse, you definitely don’t want to miss it.
misajane79's review against another edition
5.0
This hit all the big points of 1917-1918--World War I, the suffrage movement, the influenza epidemic. And yet it didn't feel forced at all. Beautiful characters, beautiful writing. They all struggle and try to work through the big historical moments they're living through. Highly recommended! (and read the note at the end about the structure of the poetry first. Helped me think more about how it was written and glad I read it early on).
More thoughts here: http://kidlithistory.com/2018/01/16/my-feminist-winter-part-2/
More thoughts here: http://kidlithistory.com/2018/01/16/my-feminist-winter-part-2/
norna28's review against another edition
4.0
This book is in poem form that gives the story of two families that lived during the first world war. The story of these families was told through three of their children, Muriel, Ollie, and Emma. The story address the issues of young men going off to war without really understanding why and women's suffrage.
I liked this book. I thought it was cool how the story was given in poem stanzas. Helen Frost did a great job of giving each of the poems a different style to portray each of the different character's personality as well as views and opinions of what was going on in their life. It was a sweet and wonderful book and would recommend this book.
I liked this book. I thought it was cool how the story was given in poem stanzas. Helen Frost did a great job of giving each of the poems a different style to portray each of the different character's personality as well as views and opinions of what was going on in their life. It was a sweet and wonderful book and would recommend this book.
compass_rose's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this. Perfect quick read for adults and 13+ alike. Sadness and grief, but love, hope and free-spirits abound. Touches on a bit of lots of historical moments from 1917- suffrage movement, WWI, gender roles, 1918 flu epidemic, rural schooling, settlement houses. Almost too saccharine, despite real tragedy - families are very happy and loving, home setting is rural idyllic, characters very in touch with their feelings. But, I can use books like that sometimes.
shighley's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't appreciate this book fully until I completed it. There are parts I want to re-read to appreciate the structure of the poetry. This is a bit different in that it takes place during WW I (so many others seem to be during WW II or Vietnam), and it's very unique because of the forms of poetry, which are explained in the back of the book. There are several predictable things that happen in the book (after all, it's a book about war), but as I whole, I liked it.
dovey91's review against another edition
5.0
This was an amazing book, it had me in tears and was perfect from beginning to end