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jeannemurray3gmailcom's review against another edition
5.0
This book brought me to tears. It touched my soul. Abraham's son, Ishmael, and Sam, an African American living in modern day, take turns narrating the story. They have quite a bit in common. They are both rejected by their fathers, and then learn to continue with life.
trishabee2000's review
4.0
I love Nikki Grimes and how she uses poetry to tell a story swiftly and deftly.
bookish_princess's review
5.0
Beautiful and interesting juxtaposition of two lives and their struggle with God and their families
afro75's review against another edition
5.0
This book parallels the story of ishmael from the bible and a teen in the present and how they both dealt with being castaway from their fathers. Powerful imagery loved the poem form.
cspen's review against another edition
4.0
I have no idea how someone can tell two coherent stories entirely in poetry form and have it read like a novel, but Nikki Grimes does it amazingly well. I'm in awe. Definitely recommend
line_so_fine's review against another edition
2.0
Two stories, told in verse, of two sons who are abandoned by their fathers. One is set in a Biblical setting, the other modern day. There's some light religious stuff in here, so if that bugs you, stay away. I myself am religion-challenged and I still thought the rest of the book was ok, and I think in the hands of the right teen it would be a hit.
thebookaneer's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a beautiful series of narrative poems exploring the lives and feelings of two sons abandoned by their fathers. I was ensnared by some of the beautiful imagery and internal rhyme, and I think it will definitely speak to students.
voya_k's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this better than A Girl Called Mister because the allegory was a little more subtle. And I like what she did to humanize the Bible story, which is an interesting one to start with.
chachacenteno's review against another edition
4.0
A walk through the betrayal, letdown and fall of a relationship with a father in the eyes of a child. It was real. I feel the story of Abraham tied to Sam made the book have a deeper resonance by pulling the reader outside Sam's situation and evaluating it in comparison to Ishmael's. I like how there was no "make it better" ending, it was the process of moving towards healing and forgiveness.
mochagirlalysia's review against another edition
4.0
What a beautiful novel! I come across this audiobook from the e-library recommendation list and I am happy the library recommended it to me.
This children's audiobook is written in verse. Yes a full story written in verse. Honestly, this is the first I have heard of this (not including nursery rhymes).
Sam's heartbreaking story starts off with his father moving out and leaving him as the man of the house. Sam's mother quickly falls into depression and is not there for Sam during this difficult time as he grows into become a real man. Dad's favorite son soon becomes the weekend big brother to a new half-baby brother.
Century before, a paralleling story played out with Ishmael and his father. Ishmael is the oldest and only son of Abraham until Isaac is born to Sarah in her extremely old age. Ishmael and his mother are abandoned and left out as Abraham's love and attention shifts.
The story is well written and the time period of each of the boys is clear and vivid. I really thought the author Nikki Grimes did a wonderful job of expressing the pain a young teenage boy would/could go through when his father leaves.
Both boys stories center around their believes and faith in God. It was nice to see a main male character of color actively involved in his church.
The narrator was excellent. Dion Graham changed his voice a bit and it came across clearly when the characters changed. I felt there were a few times when the accent he gave Ishmael was lost and it felt like he forgot to carry it all the way through. But overall I recommend this one. I am interested in seeing the book itself and seeing if there are any illustrations or artwork.
This children's audiobook is written in verse. Yes a full story written in verse. Honestly, this is the first I have heard of this (not including nursery rhymes).
Sam's heartbreaking story starts off with his father moving out and leaving him as the man of the house. Sam's mother quickly falls into depression and is not there for Sam during this difficult time as he grows into become a real man. Dad's favorite son soon becomes the weekend big brother to a new half-baby brother.
Century before, a paralleling story played out with Ishmael and his father. Ishmael is the oldest and only son of Abraham until Isaac is born to Sarah in her extremely old age. Ishmael and his mother are abandoned and left out as Abraham's love and attention shifts.
The story is well written and the time period of each of the boys is clear and vivid. I really thought the author Nikki Grimes did a wonderful job of expressing the pain a young teenage boy would/could go through when his father leaves.
Both boys stories center around their believes and faith in God. It was nice to see a main male character of color actively involved in his church.
The narrator was excellent. Dion Graham changed his voice a bit and it came across clearly when the characters changed. I felt there were a few times when the accent he gave Ishmael was lost and it felt like he forgot to carry it all the way through. But overall I recommend this one. I am interested in seeing the book itself and seeing if there are any illustrations or artwork.