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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
I don’t even know how to write a review for this, so I won’t.
Just. Beautiful.
Just. Beautiful.
I read this book in a single day, which isn't necessarily shocking for a middle grade novel. However, Pennypacker's deft writing kept things moving quickly while still incorporating lovely turns of phrase and new vocabulary words for middle grade readers. This book's coming-of-age plot deals with a lot of heavy topics which makes it a good way to introduce discussions about these subjects. For some kids, this book will be exactly what they need to read, but it may be a little heavy (or a lot heavy) for others, so definitely vet this for yourself before handing it off to a kid. This probably isn't a book I'd just give to a kid without the expectation of discussing it together at the end, and maybe even reading it together as we go along. The indeterminate time setting (WWII? present day? do we even know?) perplexed me as an adult, and I imagine it would be more confusing and possibly even distracting to younger readers. This book is recommended for ages 8-12 / grades 4-7, but I'd say it's most appropriate for the older end of that range.
Spoiler
— the death of one parent, the neglect and anger of another, therapy for children, anxiety and temper problems, the unseen cost of war, the willful loss of a beloved pet —
3rd/4th grade book club book—absolutely didn’t want to read it because I knew it would be sad and I was right.
Excellent book for teens, as it navigates family trauma in a clear way. But as a 29 year old recovering from similar issues, this really touched me. I sobbed at the end.
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
Loved this book. I wish it was twice as long. I want to know what happens next!