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lillygabriella's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
recently found a used copy of this childhood favorite. the cover of the edition i remember reading features an extremely grouchy looking girl wearing a pink shirt.
maclachlan's books, which i adored as a kid, stand up well to the test of time because her writing is so well-crafted and lyrical and the characters so vivid. not necessarily realistic (uncle who constantly speaks in rhymes didn't actually age that well) but vivid. enjoyable reread.
maclachlan's books, which i adored as a kid, stand up well to the test of time because her writing is so well-crafted and lyrical and the characters so vivid. not necessarily realistic (uncle who constantly speaks in rhymes didn't actually age that well) but vivid. enjoyable reread.
kfry83's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
azajacks's review against another edition
4.0
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org
mrskatiefitz's review against another edition
4.0
Cassie Binegar doesn't like change. She's not happy with her family's recent move to the shore, and she feels guilty that she and her grandfather had an argument just before he died. She also constantly compares her family to that of her best friend Margaret Mary, assuming that Margaret Mary's neat, organized, and well-dressed parents are normal, while her more laidback family must be odd. Cassie longs for a space of her own, away from it all, but instead gets a visit from her grandmother, and a surprise meeting with a real, live author, both of whom help her to come to terms with her guilt and look ahead to her promising future.
This is another of Patricia MacLachlan's introspective and descriptive novels for which it is not always easy to imagine an audience. (Others include Kindred Souls, Fly Away, The Truth of Me, and White Fur Flying.) In addition to lots of complicated emotions, this book uses strange metaphors (such as an aunt who wears feathers, and an uncle who wears hats and speaks in rhyme) and poetic descriptions to paint a picture of the world as Cassie experiences it. Some elements of the story itself - the deceased grandfather, the inter-generational relationships, the baby who doesn't talk yet - are recurring themes in MacLachlan's work which I recognized from more recent titles such as Fly Away. Other things, such as the desire to write, the need for space, and an overall introverted worldview were new to me, but equally satisfying. Some of the images - such as Cassie hiding under the table and being spotted by the visiting author, or writing her feelings in the sand with a stick - stayed in my mind long after finishing the book, a testament to the strength of MacLachlan's word choice and powers of description. For adults, undoubtedly, this book is a treat.
For kids, unfortunately, this book is probably the kind of thing most of them won't read unless it's assigned and won't appreciate even then because they will be forced to analyze it. Still, it is beautifully written even if it is strange, and for a reader in third or fourth grade who likes to be challenged, it could be a surprise favorite.
This is another of Patricia MacLachlan's introspective and descriptive novels for which it is not always easy to imagine an audience. (Others include Kindred Souls, Fly Away, The Truth of Me, and White Fur Flying.) In addition to lots of complicated emotions, this book uses strange metaphors (such as an aunt who wears feathers, and an uncle who wears hats and speaks in rhyme) and poetic descriptions to paint a picture of the world as Cassie experiences it. Some elements of the story itself - the deceased grandfather, the inter-generational relationships, the baby who doesn't talk yet - are recurring themes in MacLachlan's work which I recognized from more recent titles such as Fly Away. Other things, such as the desire to write, the need for space, and an overall introverted worldview were new to me, but equally satisfying. Some of the images - such as Cassie hiding under the table and being spotted by the visiting author, or writing her feelings in the sand with a stick - stayed in my mind long after finishing the book, a testament to the strength of MacLachlan's word choice and powers of description. For adults, undoubtedly, this book is a treat.
For kids, unfortunately, this book is probably the kind of thing most of them won't read unless it's assigned and won't appreciate even then because they will be forced to analyze it. Still, it is beautifully written even if it is strange, and for a reader in third or fourth grade who likes to be challenged, it could be a surprise favorite.
radio_s's review against another edition
5.0
Such a charming little book from my childhood - re-reading it made me notice how much influence it had on me growing up!
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