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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
More like 4.5 stars but only because I don't hand out 5 stars very often. Reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird because the narrator is a young 11-year old girl and maybe an unreliable narrator but that's what made it such a page turner. Truly some of the best writing I've seen in a while.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, War
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Police brutality, Pregnancy
Sigh. The book is finished and has left an empty space. Today a student asked me what was the most terrifying book I had in the Library and I replied “it’s not the books about ghosts or ghouls that are terrifying, it’s the books about what one human does to another” and that’s how I felt about this one. After reading the first chapter weeks ago I could not continue as I was afraid of its cruelty.
Yet finally I persisted and it was both worth it and I wish I hadn’t. For humans are terrifying creatures.
I hope it leaves the reader more cautious... and more kind ... as people
Yet finally I persisted and it was both worth it and I wish I hadn’t. For humans are terrifying creatures.
I hope it leaves the reader more cautious... and more kind ... as people
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Beautiful book about resilience and the courage to do what is right. I read this book in one day.
This is a fantastic book that could have easily been awarded the Newbery instead of just an honor book. The author developed a strong female main character and did that so well that the story hangs on her creative thinking and decision making. I also enjoyed how she handled the odd loner Toby and the surprising information about him revealed at the end of the story. this would be an excellent read aloud in the upper elementary grades as it could promote conversation about bullying and judging people on the surface only. I highly recommend this book to readers 10 and over.
WOW!!! "Lies and secrets can have unintended consequences, as Annabelle reminds us in this story!" Annabelle knows only kindness, but she needs to find the courage to stand as a lone voice of justice! This book was so good!!!
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
genre: historical fiction
summary: Annabelle's happy life in rural Pennsylvania is beginning to see the lingering shadows of WW2. Things get worse when Betty moves to town. As innocent on the outside as she is rotten on the inside, Betty is good at finding the weaknesses in those around her and exploiting them. Annabelle becomes someone Betty is bent on exploiting. Annabelle tries to deal with the bulling as best she can when a tragedy occurs. A mystery assailant throws a rock at one of the town's German immigrants. The rock misses the German and hits Ruth, Annabelle's friend & classmate. The injury causes Ruth to loose an eye and the townspeople are out to find the culprit. Annabelle is certain that Betty had something to do with attack but before she is able to to tell her family. Betty blames Toby, the town vagrant.
Toby appeared one day in the town and lives kept to himself away in the woods of Wolf Hollow. Many townsfolk think that he's crazy and some suspect that he may be dangerous. When Toby is blamed most people believe it to be true. Annabelle sets out to prove Toby's innocence but when Betty and Toby go missing the accusations become even more sinister. Many in town believe that Toby kidnapped the girl with an intention to harm her. Annabelle finds Toby and keeps him hidden from the police while she tries to clear Toby's name.
**SPOILERS**
Annabelle's snooping leads to her discovery of Betty. Betty has fallen down an old well outside Toby's shack. She was attempting to plant evidence and implicate him in more town mischief. When Betty is rescued, Annabelle hopes that she will confess to her lies & wrong doing. Instead, Betty claims that Toby pushed her into the well and dies without recanting any of her stories.
In a last attempt to prove Toby's innocence, Annabelle trick's Betty's "boyfriend" into admitting that she threw the rock and planted a sharp wire to hurt one of Annabelle's brothers BUT there is no way to to prove Toby did/did not push Betty. Toby goes on the run and is eventually killed by the police. These serious events cause Annabelle to leave childhood behind and she realizes what kind of person she wants to be and how lies can spoil a town, a life, and a soul.
notes:
for kids who like: War that Saved My Life, To Kill a Mockingbird
age group: age 11+ (a somber read that doesn't sugarcoat some tough themes, something I'd recommend to a reader I knew who likes the genre and is a "reader")
my review:
summary: Annabelle's happy life in rural Pennsylvania is beginning to see the lingering shadows of WW2. Things get worse when Betty moves to town. As innocent on the outside as she is rotten on the inside, Betty is good at finding the weaknesses in those around her and exploiting them. Annabelle becomes someone Betty is bent on exploiting. Annabelle tries to deal with the bulling as best she can when a tragedy occurs. A mystery assailant throws a rock at one of the town's German immigrants. The rock misses the German and hits Ruth, Annabelle's friend & classmate. The injury causes Ruth to loose an eye and the townspeople are out to find the culprit. Annabelle is certain that Betty had something to do with attack but before she is able to to tell her family. Betty blames Toby, the town vagrant.
Toby appeared one day in the town and lives kept to himself away in the woods of Wolf Hollow. Many townsfolk think that he's crazy and some suspect that he may be dangerous. When Toby is blamed most people believe it to be true. Annabelle sets out to prove Toby's innocence but when Betty and Toby go missing the accusations become even more sinister. Many in town believe that Toby kidnapped the girl with an intention to harm her. Annabelle finds Toby and keeps him hidden from the police while she tries to clear Toby's name.
**SPOILERS**
Annabelle's snooping leads to her discovery of Betty. Betty has fallen down an old well outside Toby's shack. She was attempting to plant evidence and implicate him in more town mischief. When Betty is rescued, Annabelle hopes that she will confess to her lies & wrong doing. Instead, Betty claims that Toby pushed her into the well and dies without recanting any of her stories.
In a last attempt to prove Toby's innocence, Annabelle trick's Betty's "boyfriend" into admitting that she threw the rock and planted a sharp wire to hurt one of Annabelle's brothers BUT there is no way to to prove Toby did/did not push Betty. Toby goes on the run and is eventually killed by the police. These serious events cause Annabelle to leave childhood behind and she realizes what kind of person she wants to be and how lies can spoil a town, a life, and a soul.
notes:
for kids who like: War that Saved My Life, To Kill a Mockingbird
age group: age 11+ (a somber read that doesn't sugarcoat some tough themes, something I'd recommend to a reader I knew who likes the genre and is a "reader")
my review:
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes