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tcarp's review
5.0
What a wonderful read! I saw this book on my recommended here on Goodreads and so I put it on hold at my library and I finished it in record time! This book really reminded me of A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd (minus the magic of course) because both Felicity and Early's love of words! This book was slightly below my reading level, and was in the Juvenile fiction section at my library but it was such a delight and I believe it could be for all reading levels/ages!
I loved the way this book was formatted. It not only had easy chapter breaks, it also incorporated the essence of the book (connection, family, separation, and of course the power of words!) in the actual syntax of the novel.
I don't usually read "mystery" books, at any level, but I loved the thread of plot that was a full on mystery, with clues that Early herself could solve along with us. I loved the happy ending and the conclusion of the plot/conflict. This book totally did it for me. It was heart-warming, intelligently written, and full of fun clues and mysterious elements (plus it highlighted the beautiful essence of the library- a fact I always love).
Read this book, you will smile.
I loved the way this book was formatted. It not only had easy chapter breaks, it also incorporated the essence of the book (connection, family, separation, and of course the power of words!) in the actual syntax of the novel.
I don't usually read "mystery" books, at any level, but I loved the thread of plot that was a full on mystery, with clues that Early herself could solve along with us. I loved the happy ending and the conclusion of the plot/conflict. This book totally did it for me. It was heart-warming, intelligently written, and full of fun clues and mysterious elements (plus it highlighted the beautiful essence of the library- a fact I always love).
Read this book, you will smile.
missprint's review
3.0
Despite being a word person, I actually found the very poetry-ish, word play nature of the writing to be distracting and difficult to plow through. Maybe because I'm word-ish, but not poetry-ish. Regardless. I was really pulled in by the plot, and loved the focus on homelessness - not an issue you see at ALL often in children's literature. I often found myself wishing there was a little less hobnobbing with rhymes and rhythms, and more plot/issue focus. That said, I'm aware I'm probably in the (adult) minority and I can understand why. Objectively, I can see how the writing was really lovely, it just wasn't for me.
THAT SAID, I think it'll be a hard sell to kids, considering the writing style. I think some kids will love it, but definitely on the older end of middle. I'm all for not dumbing down to kids, but I worry this one may have too much extraneous stuff that's difficult to navigate. But, to be fair, maybe that's just 'cause I found it tricky.
THAT SAID, I think it'll be a hard sell to kids, considering the writing style. I think some kids will love it, but definitely on the older end of middle. I'm all for not dumbing down to kids, but I worry this one may have too much extraneous stuff that's difficult to navigate. But, to be fair, maybe that's just 'cause I found it tricky.
snarlet319's review
4.0
I enjoy Blue Balliett's plots and her ability to teach without stepping outside of the plots and characters. An exciting story that combines homelessness and its heartbreak with book smuggling and jewel theft and a healthy dose of truly inspirational poetry by Langston Hughes.
mildlyjulie's review against another edition
3.0
Of course I fell in love with this family right away, so it kind of hurt my heart to keep reading the story when everything falls apart. I only kept going to find out/make sure things worked out.
sunvts's review
4.0
3.5
definitely valuable for its spotlighting of people struggling with homelessness/housing insecurity! i think i expected more of a mystery than what i got, but i'm still glad this book exists in the world.
definitely valuable for its spotlighting of people struggling with homelessness/housing insecurity! i think i expected more of a mystery than what i got, but i'm still glad this book exists in the world.
tashrow's review
4.0
Early lives in a warm and loving family. Her father Dash is a lover of words and word games. Her mother Sum and little brother Jubie make up the total of four in their family. But when Dash gets involved in something shady, their loving family becomes three. Then people raid their home, breaking down the door and they are forced to head to a shelter without knowing where Dash is or how he will find them again in the big city of Chicago. Early finds she has to be the strong one as her mother begins to falter and her brother is so little. Shelter life is difficult and it takes Early some time to realize that she is in the middle of a mystery that she can help solve.
Balliett demonstrates her own love of words and wordplay throughout this novel. Told in beautiful prose, she writes poetically about the city she loves, the beauty of snow, and the power of family. She incorporates wordplay through her protagonist, who looks at words the way her father taught her to. Many times words sound like what they are, points out Balliett, and just reading this book will have readers seeing words in a new way.
Balliett also introduces young readers to the poetry of Langston Hughes. One of his books is at the heart of not only the mystery of the book but at the heart of the family. As Hughes muses on dreams and their importance, both Early and the reader are able to see his words and understand them deeply.
The aspect of the homeless shelter and the difficulties the family and Early face there is an important one. Balliett is obviously making a point with her book, sometimes too obviously. There are also some issues with plotting, with the book dragging at points and struggling to move forward. That aside, the writing is stellar and the characters strong.
Another fine offering from Balliett, get this one into the hands of her fans. It will also be great choice for reading aloud in classrooms with its wordplay and strong African-American characters and family. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
Balliett demonstrates her own love of words and wordplay throughout this novel. Told in beautiful prose, she writes poetically about the city she loves, the beauty of snow, and the power of family. She incorporates wordplay through her protagonist, who looks at words the way her father taught her to. Many times words sound like what they are, points out Balliett, and just reading this book will have readers seeing words in a new way.
Balliett also introduces young readers to the poetry of Langston Hughes. One of his books is at the heart of not only the mystery of the book but at the heart of the family. As Hughes muses on dreams and their importance, both Early and the reader are able to see his words and understand them deeply.
The aspect of the homeless shelter and the difficulties the family and Early face there is an important one. Balliett is obviously making a point with her book, sometimes too obviously. There are also some issues with plotting, with the book dragging at points and struggling to move forward. That aside, the writing is stellar and the characters strong.
Another fine offering from Balliett, get this one into the hands of her fans. It will also be great choice for reading aloud in classrooms with its wordplay and strong African-American characters and family. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
If you are like me and you have almost begun to think that there aren’t any functional families out there, then you need to read this book. At the heart of this book is a fabulous family, Dashel Pearl, his wife Summer, and their kids, Early and Jubilation. They are poor, but they love each deeply. And they have a big goal: they want to save up enough money to buy a house. Then Dashel Pearl mysteriously disappears.
I loved the structure of the story, with the chapters each named with a different onomatopoeia, a word that echoes through the chapter. I felt uplifted as I read along, moved by the strength and determination of the characters in this story. A worthy read.
I loved the structure of the story, with the chapters each named with a different onomatopoeia, a word that echoes through the chapter. I felt uplifted as I read along, moved by the strength and determination of the characters in this story. A worthy read.
gardenjess's review
5.0
I always recommend Blue Balliett when a parent is looking for something to read with your children - the books are all written so well that you forget that you're reading a children's book. This one is no exception.
The main character, Early Pearl, is thrust into the world of Chicago's homeless shelters after her father mysteriously disappears - after possibly getting mixed up in something very, very bad. The story weaves in the Pearl family's love of words and language, and the works of Langston Hughes. It also portrays what seems to be a realistic view of life in shelters, and how quickly a life or a family can get turned upside down.
Recommend to those looking for a story that incorporates homelessness, for those interested in the mystery genre, or those with an interest in Langston Hughes. Seems well suited to 4th and 5th grade, though those all the way to adult could enjoy this book.
The main character, Early Pearl, is thrust into the world of Chicago's homeless shelters after her father mysteriously disappears - after possibly getting mixed up in something very, very bad. The story weaves in the Pearl family's love of words and language, and the works of Langston Hughes. It also portrays what seems to be a realistic view of life in shelters, and how quickly a life or a family can get turned upside down.
Recommend to those looking for a story that incorporates homelessness, for those interested in the mystery genre, or those with an interest in Langston Hughes. Seems well suited to 4th and 5th grade, though those all the way to adult could enjoy this book.
1tolkienfan's review
I was hesitant at first; however by the second disc i loved the narrator and the story. Requested a copy of Langston Hughes' First Book of Rhythms to read since it is quoted extensively in this book