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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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:
Complicated
“But the wind always swept my words away like cloud shadows, as if it mattered more that I said them, than who heard them. And that was all right with me.”
The beginning was a little slow, but 1/4 of the way through I couldn’t put this book down. Such a simple, but powerful story that was filled with so many emotions.
The beginning was a little slow, but 1/4 of the way through I couldn’t put this book down. Such a simple, but powerful story that was filled with so many emotions.
Read this aloud to my afternoon 7th graders. They loved it!! The way the story unfolds makes it great for reading aloud and I loved all the characters.
Lovely audio narration, but I found the book a bit didactic and humorless. Still, the warmth and depth of feeling between the young protagonist and her mother were affecting, and the author creates real suspense around the fates of Betty and Toby.
I loved the rural PA setting, and think Wolk did a great job of portraying both the setting and the time period. In particular, I loved hearing an expression I heard a lot growing up -- redding up. Had never seen it in print before!
I loved the rural PA setting, and think Wolk did a great job of portraying both the setting and the time period. In particular, I loved hearing an expression I heard a lot growing up -- redding up. Had never seen it in print before!
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-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:
Yes
An amazing historical fiction book with well-expressed character dynamics and strong emotional impact! I'm also impressed by how the story implemented elements of both world wars while being a continent away from the action. The topics of the book are certainly a bit heavy but it's still a beautiful work regardless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying
Moderate: Child death, Death
Minor: Gore, Gun violence, Blood, War
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
No
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The review I read of this book mentioned "To Kill a Mockingbird" which was awesome and scary because while TKAM is an all-time favorite well, TKAM is an all-time favorite. I can definitely see where the comparison comes from - a young female narrator right on the edge of starting to see and understand the larger world; an oddball local character who everyone knows but doesn't really understand; a little bit of mob mentality. I could pretty much predict where the story was going as it moved along, but I'm an adult who's read a lot of books and it certainly didn't stop me from enjoying it. This is also my favorite kind of writing - straight-forward and un-fancy but little bits of goodness mixed in. Lots of little details too. What Baptist kid doesn't remember drawing on the back of offering envelopes with those tiny pencils? Will definitely remember this for future students.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced