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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
Obnoxious review.
Look, guys. Do you have any idea how close I was to lying and saying I finished this just so I get hit numero 35/35 of my book challenge? I. just. couldn't. do. it.
I LOVE Willow. I think she is the stinking coolest. 2 stars for her. The beginning of the book sucked me right in, but then somewhere in the middle, I totally, literally, tuned out. Like, pages would go by that my eyes glazed over and I had no clue what happened. Then I came on here, read a spoiler about the ending and thought, "Cool. Happy ending. Byeeeeee." *sigh*
Look, guys. Do you have any idea how close I was to lying and saying I finished this just so I get hit numero 35/35 of my book challenge? I. just. couldn't. do. it.
I LOVE Willow. I think she is the stinking coolest. 2 stars for her. The beginning of the book sucked me right in, but then somewhere in the middle, I totally, literally, tuned out. Like, pages would go by that my eyes glazed over and I had no clue what happened. Then I came on here, read a spoiler about the ending and thought, "Cool. Happy ending. Byeeeeee." *sigh*
I actually picked this one up thinking it was on the upcoming Lone Star list for Texas, but it is only on the Bluebonnet list. I really enjoyed this book and read it in about a day and a half. I think it may not appeal to very many of the younger crowd who the Bluebonnet books are intended to reach. The protagonist is a twelve-year-old girl named Willow Chance and I think her personality and her circumstances would be better understood by the middle school crowd. We’ll see. I’ll be interested to see who likes it once it becomes hot over next summer and Fall when kids will be assigned to read Bluebonnet books.
The book follows a very short, but intense period in Willow’s life. Two important things to know about Willow- she’s a genius and she’s the only, adopted child to her parents. She struggles to fit in at school because she really is on another level than her classmates and for that matter even her teachers. For example, at the beginning of the book she is taken to the principal’s office because she completed the state mandated testing in 17 minutes and got all the answers correct- they were convinced she was cheating. So she ended up at the district office each week to receive counseling.
SPOLIER ALERT****
Early on in the book, Willow’s parents die in a car accident. Through very odd circumstances she is taken in by the single mother of her only friend. Her incompetent school counselor also becomes involved in her care and this disparate group becomes an unlikely family.
Holly Goldberg Sloan’s writing is very compelling and fluid. It feels as if there are no extra words- what she has written is more than enough. I was carried along by the storytelling and did not want the book to end. It is a sweet story about being different and how that affects a young girl, but also about staying true to one’s self.
I highly recommend this book to any middle school or even high school student who likes realistic fiction. As far as elementary students go, perhaps older, thoughtful, sensitive students who are willing to let the story unfold and develop will appreciate this wonderful book.
The book follows a very short, but intense period in Willow’s life. Two important things to know about Willow- she’s a genius and she’s the only, adopted child to her parents. She struggles to fit in at school because she really is on another level than her classmates and for that matter even her teachers. For example, at the beginning of the book she is taken to the principal’s office because she completed the state mandated testing in 17 minutes and got all the answers correct- they were convinced she was cheating. So she ended up at the district office each week to receive counseling.
SPOLIER ALERT****
Early on in the book, Willow’s parents die in a car accident. Through very odd circumstances she is taken in by the single mother of her only friend. Her incompetent school counselor also becomes involved in her care and this disparate group becomes an unlikely family.
Holly Goldberg Sloan’s writing is very compelling and fluid. It feels as if there are no extra words- what she has written is more than enough. I was carried along by the storytelling and did not want the book to end. It is a sweet story about being different and how that affects a young girl, but also about staying true to one’s self.
I highly recommend this book to any middle school or even high school student who likes realistic fiction. As far as elementary students go, perhaps older, thoughtful, sensitive students who are willing to let the story unfold and develop will appreciate this wonderful book.
One of the best books I have read in 2013. It is classified as a Juvenile novel, but I think it has a much broader appeal than that. A young, extremely intelligent girl faces terrible adversity, and using her intellect and passion--and being very lucky in her friends, remakes her life.
This one will make you feel very very good.
This one will make you feel very very good.
Loved this book.
**This is one of the secrets I have learned in the last few months. When you care about other people, it takes the spotlight off your own drama**
**This is one of the secrets I have learned in the last few months. When you care about other people, it takes the spotlight off your own drama**
Nolan loved this book, and wanted to reread it with me. Because he has already read the book though, he often opted for something else and it took us FOREVER to finish this short book. I think if I had just read it straight through, I would have enjoyed it more. The first half is brilliant, great characterization and graceful handling of loss and grief. By the end, it seemed to hit a predictable course of 'Great thing happens, followed by terrible thing' and then the predictable ending was stretched out. But maybe that is what works best for the age group it is intended.
Nolan and I had such different takes on Willow at the beginning, but we both found her delightful.
Nolan and I had such different takes on Willow at the beginning, but we both found her delightful.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There is so much going on in this story which makes me get bored in the middle of the book.
But the characters are so realistic and interesting and every character has their own problems but instead they managed to show their sympathy towards an orphan girl, Willow Chance who lost her parent at the age of 12.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but it wasn't my favourite one. One thing that annoys me is the writing style. The author switches the characters real fast so I had a hard time trying to figure out which point of view she is talking.
My Rating - 3/5
But the characters are so realistic and interesting and every character has their own problems but instead they managed to show their sympathy towards an orphan girl, Willow Chance who lost her parent at the age of 12.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but it wasn't my favourite one. One thing that annoys me is the writing style. The author switches the characters real fast so I had a hard time trying to figure out which point of view she is talking.
My Rating - 3/5
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent
Oh so many things to say about this book!!! So for young adult books I pretty much compare EVERYTHING to Wonder. I can say that this is the first book that even came CLOSE to that incredible book. I LOVED the main character and all the nutty other characters. I loved the surprise relationship at the end of the story. I loved the complexity of Willow and the insight she has about herself and the world around her…and she is 12. I love that all the characters are flawed but you love them anyway. I love that the book reminds you that STRANGE people on the outside are often incredible people on the inside. The only part that made me a little sad was the reason that Willow finds herself in her 'predicament'. That takes me a while to swallow. But in the end I realized that it took a lot of courage on the author's part to begin a story in this way. If you want a good read to share with your daughter or son, this is a good one. I am currently BEGGING Anna to read this. I need a discussion partner :-)
Ages 9+ (tragic death of parents. no romance or language.)
4 sliding to 3.5.
The good: Great characters, engaging voice, hard-to-put-down. Plants! Libraries as safe spaces. A multi-ethnic cast, including an intentionally unlabeled POC main character.
The eh: Magical genius children who suffer tragedy only to make everyone's lives better! Lacksidaisical home placement checks.
Overall: loved the characters and the voice. Wish there was a little less suspension of disbelief required of the situation after Willow's parents were killed.
4 sliding to 3.5.
The good: Great characters, engaging voice, hard-to-put-down. Plants! Libraries as safe spaces. A multi-ethnic cast, including an intentionally unlabeled POC main character.
The eh: Magical genius children who suffer tragedy only to make everyone's lives better! Lacksidaisical home placement checks.
Overall: loved the characters and the voice. Wish there was a little less suspension of disbelief required of the situation after Willow's parents were killed.