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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Annie and her younger brother Rew live with their elderly grandmother in a town called Sunshine. They've dubbed the woods behind their house "Zebra Forest" because of its black and white trees, but this book definitely explore issues that are not so black and white. An unexpected visitor arrives at their house via Zebra Forest and turns Annie and Rew's world upside down. The story takes place in the summer of 1980, but the only hint of that is Annie's fascination with the Iran Hostage Crisis. Annie and Rew share a love of [b:Treasure Island|295|Treasure Island|Robert Louis Stevenson|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312023209s/295.jpg|3077988], which allows the author to explore themes of judging good guys vs. bad guys. This is a mature story about guilt, forgiveness, and the ties that bind a family together. While there's not a lot of action, there are questions that hang in the air and keep the reader engaged with the plot.
Speaking of the plot, it hinges on one big coincidence (, but if you can accept it, then I'd call this a little book (about 200 pages) with a big emotional punch.
If you like well-written stories about nontraditional families like [b:Summer of the Gypsy Moths|12860772|Summer of the Gypsy Moths|Sara Pennypacker|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1332510396s/12860772.jpg|18012637], [b:Sparrow Road|8730566|Sparrow Road|Sheila O'Connor|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348216824s/8730566.jpg|13603591], [b:What Happened on Fox Street|7883148|What Happened on Fox Street|Tricia Springstubb|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1306188439s/7883148.jpg|11091314], or [b:One Crazy Summer|6609764|One Crazy Summer|Rita Williams-Garcia|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347436965s/6609764.jpg|6803731], this would be a good pick.
Speaking of the plot, it hinges on one big coincidence (
Spoiler
a man breaks out of prison and the house he chooses to hide out in happens to be the house where his estranged children are living with their grandmother--believable only because the grandmother chose to live in a house very close to the prisonIf you like well-written stories about nontraditional families like [b:Summer of the Gypsy Moths|12860772|Summer of the Gypsy Moths|Sara Pennypacker|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1332510396s/12860772.jpg|18012637], [b:Sparrow Road|8730566|Sparrow Road|Sheila O'Connor|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348216824s/8730566.jpg|13603591], [b:What Happened on Fox Street|7883148|What Happened on Fox Street|Tricia Springstubb|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1306188439s/7883148.jpg|11091314], or [b:One Crazy Summer|6609764|One Crazy Summer|Rita Williams-Garcia|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347436965s/6609764.jpg|6803731], this would be a good pick.
Not much happened in terms of a plot...kind of just a slow boring read with nothing too suspenseful (like you would have thought with people escaping from prison and holding people hostage) which is unfortunate. Just a lot of people being mad at each other and descriptions from Treasure Island (which sucks if you have no knowledge about it at all).
Read this in one sitting on accident. I appreciate that the main character was an 11 year-old who wasn't dumbed down. All of the characters were well thought out.
Creepy withdrawn grandma + escaped convict + lifelong secrets? That sounds like an awesome equation for a book, but it turned out just so-so. I was annoyed by the constant pining for the zebra forest and obsession over Treasure Island, and I was not particularly keen on the writing style. It would make a decent opener to discuss issues like anger, resentment, redemption, and responsibility, but I can't imagine kids getting excited over this book.
I enjoyed this book. Good character development, pretty accessible language and concepts for grade 5+.
The Iranian hostage crisis references will probably be way over most kids heads... But for a historical fiction book report it would be a good topic to research.
Read alikes: [b:Homecoming|12125|Homecoming (Tillerman Cycle, #1)|Cynthia Voigt|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1390250078s/12125.jpg|213788]and [b:Dicey's Song|11831|Dicey's Song (Tillerman Cycle, #2)|Cynthia Voigt|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1386923650s/11831.jpg|1968913], also [b:Turtle in Paradise|6871737|Turtle in Paradise|Jennifer L. Holm|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388439853s/6871737.jpg|7088141]. A complementary book would be [b:Treasure Island|295|Treasure Island|Robert Louis Stevenson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388607993s/295.jpg|3077988], as it is referenced often in this book.
The Iranian hostage crisis references will probably be way over most kids heads... But for a historical fiction book report it would be a good topic to research.
Read alikes: [b:Homecoming|12125|Homecoming (Tillerman Cycle, #1)|Cynthia Voigt|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1390250078s/12125.jpg|213788]and [b:Dicey's Song|11831|Dicey's Song (Tillerman Cycle, #2)|Cynthia Voigt|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1386923650s/11831.jpg|1968913], also [b:Turtle in Paradise|6871737|Turtle in Paradise|Jennifer L. Holm|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388439853s/6871737.jpg|7088141]. A complementary book would be [b:Treasure Island|295|Treasure Island|Robert Louis Stevenson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388607993s/295.jpg|3077988], as it is referenced often in this book.
3.5 definitely. This is a DCF book for this 2014-2105 school year!
I choose this book a mother daughter book club selection, and it is one I would highly recommend for this type of reading.
The Zebra Forest is a story of a sister and brother who live with their Gran. There seems to be some secrets in how Gran wants them to live. The kids know very little of their parents and have been told that their father is dead and their mother has abandoned them. One day an escaped prisoner enters their home and everything changes.
I like that this book deals with some of the tougher issues that some children live with, but does not make you feel sorry for them.
My daughter has not yet finished the book, so I can not speak on how she will like it, but I am glad I read it. Not only is it a book written for kids it is a book adults can get much from as well.
The Zebra Forest is a story of a sister and brother who live with their Gran. There seems to be some secrets in how Gran wants them to live. The kids know very little of their parents and have been told that their father is dead and their mother has abandoned them. One day an escaped prisoner enters their home and everything changes.
I like that this book deals with some of the tougher issues that some children live with, but does not make you feel sorry for them.
My daughter has not yet finished the book, so I can not speak on how she will like it, but I am glad I read it. Not only is it a book written for kids it is a book adults can get much from as well.
Zebra forest was a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect that this little story would be emotional and real in many ways. I couldn't get enough of it.
Annie fascinates me. She is very mature and brave. She accepts life just as it is and cherishes the happy moments and places in her life. Maybe that's why I felt calm reading this book. Like everything was okay even when it was not.
Zebra Forest is written beautifully. There are some lines that I'll never forget. I'm glad I read this book.
Annie fascinates me. She is very mature and brave. She accepts life just as it is and cherishes the happy moments and places in her life. Maybe that's why I felt calm reading this book. Like everything was okay even when it was not.
Zebra Forest is written beautifully. There are some lines that I'll never forget. I'm glad I read this book.
This was chosen for my son's book club this month. I like to read the books first and was a little apprehensive once I started reading. The story's situation was pretty intense, especially for kids, but overall it was a good read. It seems there is a pattern of negativity and violence in the children's books we've been reading lately, but they have all been situations some kids deal with. I'll be interested to hear what my son thinks about the book and I would like to hear about additional books by the author.
I was disapointed that there were no zebras but after I got over that I really liked it.