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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Review for Battle of the Books 2023
188 pages. Black male author. Large cast of non-white characters. Each “chapter” is a different story happening on a different block at the same time. The large cast of characters means there something for everyone to be able to relate to, so many different perspectives and interests. About 120 standout questions on first read. Could be cutting it too close for question writers. If not chosen for Battle, still great for reader advisory and book displays!
188 pages. Black male author. Large cast of non-white characters. Each “chapter” is a different story happening on a different block at the same time. The large cast of characters means there something for everyone to be able to relate to, so many different perspectives and interests. About 120 standout questions on first read. Could be cutting it too close for question writers. If not chosen for Battle, still great for reader advisory and book displays!
Spoiler
There isn't actually a bus. Everything is reality based
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked this book. Took me a few blocks to figure out that a school bus wasn’t actually going to fall from the sky. I think I thought it was going to be more like Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy for some reason.
Anyways. I really enjoyed all the kids perspectives and stories. It reminded me that my kids have their own personalities and stories and hopes and wishes. Their own world as they ride the bus home from school. They would probably enjoy this book too.
Anyways. I really enjoyed all the kids perspectives and stories. It reminded me that my kids have their own personalities and stories and hopes and wishes. Their own world as they ride the bus home from school. They would probably enjoy this book too.
What I love about Jason Reynolds is that his characters feel like real kids. Even in each short story, they have distinct personalities. He writes what he sees, he writes what he knows, and how all of these stories intersected and connected was so clever.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I love these short stories and the way they hang together.
Always refreshing to read a middle grade novel that depicts real problems and real characters. Excellent reminder that you may not always know what the person sitting next to you in class is going through in their home life.
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5- I was so happy when I stumbled upon this book, and yet I was so confused too. This is a middle grade book about middle school students and their lives after school one day told in a series of 10 vignettes. For some reason I thought it was about 9/11 and was thoroughly confused when by the third story 9/11 still wasn’t mentioned. Once I cleared up my confusion I settled in and loved every minute.
Each vignette takes us to a different block and a different student or set of students. We meet 4 preteens who have bonded over each having a parent with cancer, we meet a girl who has sickle cell anemia and her best friend who makes her feel better mentally when her body is feeling awful, and we meet a kid who cares more about the feelings of his best friend than he does about his own safety. Amongst the stories are several other students too. While each story focuses on one student or one set of students the others are there as background characters.
I loved the creativity Jason Reynolds used to craft this amazing book. Through the vastly different lives of these students we get to see how one day played out for each of them. This is the first book I’ve read by Mr. Reynolds, but it won’t be the last!
Each vignette takes us to a different block and a different student or set of students. We meet 4 preteens who have bonded over each having a parent with cancer, we meet a girl who has sickle cell anemia and her best friend who makes her feel better mentally when her body is feeling awful, and we meet a kid who cares more about the feelings of his best friend than he does about his own safety. Amongst the stories are several other students too. While each story focuses on one student or one set of students the others are there as background characters.
I loved the creativity Jason Reynolds used to craft this amazing book. Through the vastly different lives of these students we get to see how one day played out for each of them. This is the first book I’ve read by Mr. Reynolds, but it won’t be the last!