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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Quite clever and amusing. I want to read this again someday.
Fun read. Professor who taught math to kids decides to retire and get away. He wants to free himself from clocks and dealing with people, so he decides to travel around in a hot air balloon. This way he is at the mercy of the wind and no people around. He leaves from the west coast and about three weeks later he's picked up off the east coast surrounded by wreckage. He refuses to tell how he got there so quickly until he can tell his explorers society. It is a story worth hearing!
Whimsical as all get-out. I really want a floating balloon carriage.
A man goes on a balloon adventure, but crashes onto an obscure island inhabited by 20 families keeping a secret of a giant diamond mine. The families escape the island just in time to avoid an explosive volcano. Lots of description, not much action.
Understanding that it is a book meant for children/young adults, I still loved it! The plot was so intriguing and the illustrations really helped you visualize what was being described, which was a lot. It was whimsical and fun and I enjoyed every minute!
Another Newbery read, this time from 1947. This book fits right into the category of Doctor Doolittle and Around the World in 80 Days. Professor Sherman builds a massive hot air balloon (with attached house) and sets off to get away from people for a year. Ok, maybe this story is more modern than I thought, haha.
Anyway, it's one of those "this guy wanders the world and has crazy adventures" kind of stories. Definitely a product of its time, with no non-white characters (they mention natives of Java and Sumatra but we never see them)... eh. It is okay as an adventure story.
Not a favorite, but a quick read.
Anyway, it's one of those "this guy wanders the world and has crazy adventures" kind of stories. Definitely a product of its time, with no non-white characters (they mention natives of Java and Sumatra but we never see them)... eh. It is okay as an adventure story.
Not a favorite, but a quick read.
This book stands out not just for it's details (an explorer discovers a secret island where several families are living and learns all about their way of life) but for the fact that it is a straight adventure novel with a great imagination. It doesn't preach anything, it doesn't try to get anything done, and it has very nice illustrations. What more could a kid ask for? Good for adventurous little ones ages 8 and up who might be tired of straight up fantasy.
adventurous
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:
Yes
A fun adventure story, but slow at the start and then over too soon once the story got going. For the right child, a great read- particularly for boys. Also a good resource when working on inferring with students. Excellent opportunities for making predictions, and many other reading strategies.