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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
Historical fiction, mystery, coming of age, morality. I cried at the end.
What a wonderful audiobook! I listened to this on a road trip with my mom who grew up at the time this story took place. We both thoroughly enjoyed it. Gave a great representation of living on a farm in the early 1940s with many people "making do" so soon after the Depression and because of the war. Excellent character development. The young narrator learned a lot about life that year.
I read this because my twelve-year-old read it and said she really liked it. She especially liked the theme of a man falsely accused and the main character’s choice to try and absolve him, even if it might condemn her. That’s pretty heady for a YA book, and I was pleasantly suprised that it gives more than that.
It reminded me a lot of To Kill a Mockingbird (but in rural Pennsylvania), which is high praise. Most of the similarities come from the themes and characters. For example, the POV protagonist is a young girl and there’s a reclusive man who has trouble fitting into society (although in his case, it’s because of WWI). The book dedicates a hefty third to explaining her small-town life and what she does when she walks around, goes to school, deals with bullies, relates to neighbors, learns minor life lessons, and so on. No racism, but it’s thematically about prejudice and how there are some things too beautiful to be in this world. The adults act like real people, not the “kids vs. adults” a lot of children’s fiction exhibits.
It’s a somber story, a tough story. One that might be hard to hear. If you liked To Kill a Mockingbird but want to avoid the hard-to-explain racism aspects, this is an excellent choice.
It reminded me a lot of To Kill a Mockingbird (but in rural Pennsylvania), which is high praise. Most of the similarities come from the themes and characters. For example, the POV protagonist is a young girl and there’s a reclusive man who has trouble fitting into society (although in his case, it’s because of WWI). The book dedicates a hefty third to explaining her small-town life and what she does when she walks around, goes to school, deals with bullies, relates to neighbors, learns minor life lessons, and so on. No racism, but it’s thematically about prejudice and how there are some things too beautiful to be in this world. The adults act like real people, not the “kids vs. adults” a lot of children’s fiction exhibits.
It’s a somber story, a tough story. One that might be hard to hear. If you liked To Kill a Mockingbird but want to avoid the hard-to-explain racism aspects, this is an excellent choice.
Set during WWII, Annabelle lives with her family on a small farm in Pennsylvania. Betty, a new student, immediately targets Annabelle. Soon Betty includes Toby, a veteran from WWI, in her attacks and accuses him of harming kids. Toby was always a recluse and a bit strange but now he is hunted by the town. I really loved this book until the end; it felt rushed and unfinished.
From the perspective of an adult I typically would not have given this five stars, but being that it’s a middle-grade (4-8ish) book it deserves it.
This story reminded me of other historical fiction novels written for a younger audience. The protagonist, Annabelle, has an independent streak and is very in tune with people’s nature. She reminded me a bit of Caddie Woodlawn or Laura Ingalls. The setting is hill country in western Pennsylvania during the early 1940s - WWII is mentioned but is not of consequence to the story. There’s a Boo Radley type character, Toby, who is clearly experiencing PTSD, ostensibly from WWI. There are other nods to earlier YA and children’s fiction but the story is not one that I’ve heard before, so it felt original. The author takes time in her character development, description, and story line and it’s just a very good book. First person narration from Annabelle who is 11, almost 12.
I’m not getting into story details, but there are themes of loss, sadness, coming of age, and a bit about mental health from the perspective of early-mid 20th century America.
I would highly recommend, may be a bit difficult for sensitive readers.
This story reminded me of other historical fiction novels written for a younger audience. The protagonist, Annabelle, has an independent streak and is very in tune with people’s nature. She reminded me a bit of Caddie Woodlawn or Laura Ingalls. The setting is hill country in western Pennsylvania during the early 1940s - WWII is mentioned but is not of consequence to the story. There’s a Boo Radley type character, Toby, who is clearly experiencing PTSD, ostensibly from WWI. There are other nods to earlier YA and children’s fiction but the story is not one that I’ve heard before, so it felt original. The author takes time in her character development, description, and story line and it’s just a very good book. First person narration from Annabelle who is 11, almost 12.
I’m not getting into story details, but there are themes of loss, sadness, coming of age, and a bit about mental health from the perspective of early-mid 20th century America.
I would highly recommend, may be a bit difficult for sensitive readers.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this book with my 11 year old daughter. I loved the book. Annabelle is a wonderful girl who listens to her gut and works hard to try and save Betty and Toby. Toby was a great man but Betty was a horrible girl.
Oh my...this book is so real and raw and beautiful! There is a reason that so many people say that this reminds them of “To Kill a Mockingbird”. While not the same books there are quite a few similarities and I love this book as much (or maybe even a little more)!
Annabelle is such a great character. This is a true coming of age story and while not all of the decisions she makes end up with positive outcomes, she still takes risks for what she believes in and those she loves. She does disobey her parents a few times and calls the year she turned 12 the year she learned to lie...but in the end it is also the year she learns to tell the truth...even when it is hard. Her relationship with her parents and her brothers is both believable and so great! I always love when I see a healthy and loving family in fiction for young people. Not the kind of fake relationships where they seem too good to be true, but the ones where people are loving and supporting each other, making mistakes but helping each other and forgiving each other when that happens.
I won’t lie, this book is hard to read (or listen to, as I did). There are characters that are absolutely horrible to others for seemingly no reason (although there is later some explanations as to why it doesn’t change how horrible the actions were); there is judgement based on how people look and act (or even based on their ancestry); there are characters that have been truly changed after returning from war; there is bullying in a very real way; there is a missing child; there are two awful accidents; there are a lot of lies (some happen in order to protect someone and some are used to directly and purposely hurt someone); and there are two deaths (one is truly unexpected and neither are really peaceful). But in between all of that hard stuff there is real beauty...People standing up for others; people helping those in need even if they know they might not get anything in return; people looking past someone’s exterior to see the true person; people sharing what they have, even if that isn’t a lot; a family that loves and supports each other; someone who risks their life to help someone that has purposely hurt them; people finding beauty in the world around them and then capturing it on film; people risking their safety or reputation to help someone; people working on forgiving those that have harmed them even if it isn’t easy or they aren’t even asking; and people realizing that they were too quick to judge someone and admitting they were wrong.
Recommend: 10, 11, 12 depending on the maturity level/sensitivity-because of everything I mentioned above
I think everyone should read this book because it does such a good job of reminding us to be careful of how we judge others, to not always believe everything we hear, to stand up and speak up when we see injustice in the world around us and to look for the beauty that is always to be found in the world around us.
Also, I know some people don’t think kids should be reading such heavy topics. While I agree that you need to know what your kid is ready to handle, reading books like this helps them to experience real life situations in a safe way so that they work through the feelings that those situations invoke and helps them prepare to make tough decisions and handle hard situations as they grow.
Annabelle is such a great character. This is a true coming of age story and while not all of the decisions she makes end up with positive outcomes, she still takes risks for what she believes in and those she loves. She does disobey her parents a few times and calls the year she turned 12 the year she learned to lie...but in the end it is also the year she learns to tell the truth...even when it is hard. Her relationship with her parents and her brothers is both believable and so great! I always love when I see a healthy and loving family in fiction for young people. Not the kind of fake relationships where they seem too good to be true, but the ones where people are loving and supporting each other, making mistakes but helping each other and forgiving each other when that happens.
I won’t lie, this book is hard to read (or listen to, as I did). There are characters that are absolutely horrible to others for seemingly no reason (although there is later some explanations as to why it doesn’t change how horrible the actions were); there is judgement based on how people look and act (or even based on their ancestry); there are characters that have been truly changed after returning from war; there is bullying in a very real way; there is a missing child; there are two awful accidents; there are a lot of lies (some happen in order to protect someone and some are used to directly and purposely hurt someone); and there are two deaths (one is truly unexpected and neither are really peaceful). But in between all of that hard stuff there is real beauty...People standing up for others; people helping those in need even if they know they might not get anything in return; people looking past someone’s exterior to see the true person; people sharing what they have, even if that isn’t a lot; a family that loves and supports each other; someone who risks their life to help someone that has purposely hurt them; people finding beauty in the world around them and then capturing it on film; people risking their safety or reputation to help someone; people working on forgiving those that have harmed them even if it isn’t easy or they aren’t even asking; and people realizing that they were too quick to judge someone and admitting they were wrong.
Recommend: 10, 11, 12 depending on the maturity level/sensitivity-because of everything I mentioned above
I think everyone should read this book because it does such a good job of reminding us to be careful of how we judge others, to not always believe everything we hear, to stand up and speak up when we see injustice in the world around us and to look for the beauty that is always to be found in the world around us.
Also, I know some people don’t think kids should be reading such heavy topics. While I agree that you need to know what your kid is ready to handle, reading books like this helps them to experience real life situations in a safe way so that they work through the feelings that those situations invoke and helps them prepare to make tough decisions and handle hard situations as they grow.