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tueller42's review against another edition
5.0
I hadn't read this since fifth grade but it is one of those books that has lodged in my brain with really distinct images. Though, I cannot imagine Ms. Aluli saying scrotum aloud to a class of fifth graders but she must have. Anyway, it was worth a relisten.
margeryb's review against another edition
2.0
As someone who reviews notable children's book for a work committee and has personally been working my way through the Newbery winner list... I didn't like this book. It uses a lot of the same tropes of other more literary skewing notable children's books but does nothing special with them. The characters are quirky, but not quirky enough to be actually humorous (say, like Dead End in Norvelt). The story of unconventional family dynamics (dead parents and guardians stepping into that role) while dealing with grief is done better in Missing May (another Newbery winner I recently read). The only refreshing part of the story was Bridgette, but... I don't know... haven't fun into a lot of French characters in kid lit and I think was the only thing that stood out to be as different in this book.
While the sentence-to-sentence writing was lovely, I -- an adult who has read much more difficult books than this -- found the story...boring. It was just a lot of observations piled on top of each other and then only brought together, sort of, by the very end, but by then I had forgotten them already... and other elements weren't set up at all. The story needed a strong through line/plot/tension/something and it sorely lacked that. If I could barely bring myself back to it, I don't imagine a kid would be drawn into it either.
The star rating may be unnecessarily harsh. It's a competent enough book and I usually give competent if not stellar/special books three stars. But the stars are less comparing it to all books in general but to other Newbery winner and notable children books on similar topics. And this was just treaded familiar ground that other authors and books did better.
While the sentence-to-sentence writing was lovely, I -- an adult who has read much more difficult books than this -- found the story...boring. It was just a lot of observations piled on top of each other and then only brought together, sort of, by the very end, but by then I had forgotten them already... and other elements weren't set up at all. The story needed a strong through line/plot/tension/something and it sorely lacked that. If I could barely bring myself back to it, I don't imagine a kid would be drawn into it either.
The star rating may be unnecessarily harsh. It's a competent enough book and I usually give competent if not stellar/special books three stars. But the stars are less comparing it to all books in general but to other Newbery winner and notable children books on similar topics. And this was just treaded familiar ground that other authors and books did better.
vbodem13's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed reading this book although some parts seemed a little extreme it can be truly realistic in the mind of a ten-year-old. Then again, it is realistic fiction so it works out well. This is a book about the struggling emotions of a young girl with her reflation ships gone wrong with family and herself. It takes her on a long journey through many obstacles physically and figuratively. I highly recommend this book for 12 and up age group. Even though the main character is 10 does not mean the other content is at the age level.
plaidpladd's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
This book is fine if forgettable. But of course I will always remember that it's the only Newbery Award Winner I had to ILL since it's the one my library doesn't own (for having the word "scrotum" on the first page, I assume lol)
librarydreams's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The plot would have been none existent if the characters had just talked to each other. Still, the lack of communication is believable, and the ending is sweet. The people of Hard Pan will pique your curiosity, and, quite possibly, capture your heart.
aishidoodah's review against another edition
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.0
blakehalsey's review against another edition
4.0
This little book was a great story. Set in the desert, it dealt with a small-town culture in America not often visited by authors. Moreover, it teaches valuable lessons about loss, faith, friends, and believing in the goodness of people.
vanitar's review against another edition
2.0
This book got better by the end but the first 2/3rds were slow and not interesting at all. I read it as part of my goal to read the newbery winners and some of the books in that category don’t strike me as winners and leave me wondering what I missed.
msvenner's review against another edition
4.0
Because of my Readers Advisory for Young Readers class I have been talking a lot about child and youth fiction. This is a novel for preteens, I think. It is a Newberry Award winner and I can see why. Lucky is a unique mind living in hard Pan, California, population 43. She has lost her mother and is struggling to understand her new guardian and the complicated concepts she overhears while listening in on the 12-step recovery meetings in town. It is a charming book and the author seemed to have special insight to a child's mind. An excellent book for kids!