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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Read this in two sittings. Derailed my whole afternoon to devour it. I did not expect to love it even 10% as much as I did! Upper elementary to high school students are going to eat this up.
For the past few years I've been avoiding even mildly dystopian books - they felt entirely too realistic - but I am so glad I picked this up gorgeous novel in verse. It is so much more than a survival story...so many of these poems are lush meditations on nature, on being in the present, and how to make meaning of the "one wild and precious life" we each are given, in the words of Mary Oliver.
Did I mention that there are whole chapters where the MC digs into Mary Oliver poetry?!?!? Oh, to know this book will bring more adolescents to Mary Oliver's words!
If that makes it sound boring and too meditative for adolescents, don't let me steer you wrong...this book has nail biter moments, from ravenous wild dogs to open wounds to tornadoes, fires, floods, and more harrowing moments. But what will capture imaginations is the premise: what would you do if you found yourself all alone in your town? Able to (and needing to) ransack every house, storefront, your school, the library...what would you do all alone? How would you survive?
From a practical teacher perspective, I love that this thick book can be picked up by even struggling readers and will give them a sense of reading a tome of great heft -- which it is, in ideas, but not in sentence complexity. It's got harrowing edge of your seat moments of suspense and the entire premise is refreshing and yet totally believable. Thoroughly enjoyed and kids will, too.
Highly recommended for ES, MS, and HS libraries.
For the past few years I've been avoiding even mildly dystopian books - they felt entirely too realistic - but I am so glad I picked this up gorgeous novel in verse. It is so much more than a survival story...so many of these poems are lush meditations on nature, on being in the present, and how to make meaning of the "one wild and precious life" we each are given, in the words of Mary Oliver.
Did I mention that there are whole chapters where the MC digs into Mary Oliver poetry?!?!? Oh, to know this book will bring more adolescents to Mary Oliver's words!
If that makes it sound boring and too meditative for adolescents, don't let me steer you wrong...this book has nail biter moments, from ravenous wild dogs to open wounds to tornadoes, fires, floods, and more harrowing moments. But what will capture imaginations is the premise: what would you do if you found yourself all alone in your town? Able to (and needing to) ransack every house, storefront, your school, the library...what would you do all alone? How would you survive?
From a practical teacher perspective, I love that this thick book can be picked up by even struggling readers and will give them a sense of reading a tome of great heft -- which it is, in ideas, but not in sentence complexity. It's got harrowing edge of your seat moments of suspense and the entire premise is refreshing and yet totally believable. Thoroughly enjoyed and kids will, too.
Highly recommended for ES, MS, and HS libraries.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
I'm usually not into novels in verse (I don't understand splitting a single, full sentence into 6 lines and calling it a stanza) or dad-wish-fulfillment (in that my dad would be psyched if I remembered 1/3 of the survival wisdom he has imparted on me over the years) but I was VERY into this. I bullied all of my late elementary/middle grade teacher pals into getting this book for their classroom - it's a great option for all genders and readers who don't see themselves as big readers due to how quick and readable it was!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
Amazing. The character arc and the story was so great! Ending was rushed, but hopefully more is explained in book 2.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced