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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
tense
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
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Although I fall in love with almost every book that I complete, not all become part of my permanent library. This is one that will.
My favorite quotes:
Prologue
...through that whole unsettling time I knew that it simply would not do to hide in the barn with a book and an apple and let events plunge forward without me. It would not do to turn twelve without earning my keep, and by that I meant my place, my small authority, the possibility that I would amount to something.
But there was more to it than that.
The year I turned twelve, I learned that what I said and what I did mattered.
So much, sometimes, that I wasn't sure I wanted such a burden.
But I took it anyway, and I carried it as best I could.
Pg. 228
And I decided that there might be things I would never understand, no matter how hard I tried. Though try I would.
And there would be people who would never hear my one small voice, no matter what that I had to say.
But then a better thought occurred, and this one I carried away with me that day: If my life was to be just a single note in an endless symphony, how could I not sound it out for as long and as loudly as I could?
Pg. 291
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 is all right with me.
My favorite quotes:
Prologue
...through that whole unsettling time I knew that it simply would not do to hide in the barn with a book and an apple and let events plunge forward without me. It would not do to turn twelve without earning my keep, and by that I meant my place, my small authority, the possibility that I would amount to something.
But there was more to it than that.
The year I turned twelve, I learned that what I said and what I did mattered.
So much, sometimes, that I wasn't sure I wanted such a burden.
But I took it anyway, and I carried it as best I could.
Pg. 228
And I decided that there might be things I would never understand, no matter how hard I tried. Though try I would.
And there would be people who would never hear my one small voice, no matter what that I had to say.
But then a better thought occurred, and this one I carried away with me that day: If my life was to be just a single note in an endless symphony, how could I not sound it out for as long and as loudly as I could?
Pg. 291
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 is all right with me.
Very dark for a middle grade. Honestly, it reads like adult fiction. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to older kids. The descriptions of the farm and farm life are gorgeous. A really excellent protagonist. I listened to the audiobook which was well done and beautifully read. Enjoyed this historical middle grade thoroughly.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Wow! This book is going to stay with me a long time. There is so much to love about this book. The writing is incredible and the characters are so real and complex. The main character, Annabelle, is 11-going-on-12, living in a rural community at the advent of the Second World War. She has a loving family, two supportive parents and two rambunctious younger brothers, a nice home on a farm, extended family and relative peace. Their whole word changes when a new girl Betty, moves to town. Betty is a bully, manipulative and cruel, and she targets Annabelle. The story starts out as a story about one girl and her bully, but the situation quickly escalates and changes the lives of everyone around.
Annabelle is a strong, smart girl with a good heart, who sees the best in people, has the confidence to stand up for herself and those around her and she is a female heroine for the ages.
The story is layered and intertwined, relatable, touching, heartbreaking, inspirational, moving and thoughtful. A must read! 5/5 stars ⭐️
Annabelle is a strong, smart girl with a good heart, who sees the best in people, has the confidence to stand up for herself and those around her and she is a female heroine for the ages.
The story is layered and intertwined, relatable, touching, heartbreaking, inspirational, moving and thoughtful. A must read! 5/5 stars ⭐️
Somewhere between 'it was ok' and 'I liked it'
emotional
reflective
medium-paced