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hnbb's review against another edition
4.0
A book that makes you think. It was well told with characters I could see and understand.
girlfromthenorth's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
marcomywords's review against another edition
1.0
Do all adults in kids books really have to act irresponsibly?
Because it's starting to get on my nerves.
Larkin's parents are seriously neglecting their daughter and gush over the random baby. They are so terrible at communication that at this point, poeple have to actually look them in the eyes and hammer it home by repeating stupidly "use words". I swear I'm not joking, they are THAT dense.
Larkin's teacher is out of touch with reality and has zero work ethic, and yet is presented as inspirational somehow. She dismisses kids out of her classroom after telling them about a traumatic event in her past, leaving them to fend on their own because... POETRY? Yeah, its was supposed to be a poetry lesson: traumatize kids, read a sad poem about death with almost no warning, flirt with your crush before their eyes and that's it class is dismissed, that was poetry for you. Heammmm great!
Sophie's mom doesn't have a believable excuse for leaving her baby and certainly gives no sound basis for other poeple to believe she's going to be a decent parent now.
What on earth is the legal status of this ridiculous situation?
PLOT: ridiculous, can only exist in a world without law, without social services, without real adults anywhere
CHARACTERS: apparently we're supposed to like them?
STYLE: unbearable repetitions: "words. " "words?" "words." + equally unbearable inserts of poetry in the mix, just enough to make it a book about nothing, where the author basically wants the reader to know: "Patricia MacLachlan likes to read poems apparently"
MESSAGE: could you lay it on even thicker, do you think?
What a waste of my time.
Because it's starting to get on my nerves.
Larkin's parents are seriously neglecting their daughter and gush over the random baby. They are so terrible at communication that at this point, poeple have to actually look them in the eyes and hammer it home by repeating stupidly "use words". I swear I'm not joking, they are THAT dense.
Larkin's teacher is out of touch with reality and has zero work ethic, and yet is presented as inspirational somehow. She dismisses kids out of her classroom after telling them about a traumatic event in her past, leaving them to fend on their own because... POETRY? Yeah, its was supposed to be a poetry lesson: traumatize kids, read a sad poem about death with almost no warning, flirt with your crush before their eyes and that's it class is dismissed, that was poetry for you. Heammmm great!
Sophie's mom doesn't have a believable excuse for leaving her baby and certainly gives no sound basis for other poeple to believe she's going to be a decent parent now.
What on earth is the legal status of this ridiculous situation?
PLOT: ridiculous, can only exist in a world without law, without social services, without real adults anywhere
CHARACTERS: apparently we're supposed to like them?
STYLE: unbearable repetitions: "words. " "words?" "words." + equally unbearable inserts of poetry in the mix, just enough to make it a book about nothing, where the author basically wants the reader to know: "Patricia MacLachlan likes to read poems apparently"
MESSAGE: could you lay it on even thicker, do you think?
What a waste of my time.
kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
loved this one when i was younger...and still love it!
carlyjaye's review against another edition
3.0
I read this in fifth grade for a reading assignment. It was this huuuge thing. I really liked the book. It had a lot of good lines in it, quotes and stuff. Good images and it meant something.
It would be a quick read for me now, and really anyone, but it's worth it.
It would be a quick read for me now, and really anyone, but it's worth it.
squids_can_read's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
akbates's review against another edition
4.0
This is her best book by far. It should be read as much as Sarah Plain and Tall.
ellbelle's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my all-time favorite books. It is beautifully and simply written, handling the story almost like poetry.
I first read Baby as a kid, and reread it every few years as an adult. It is powerful and beautiful and heart-wrenching.
The story deals wonderfully with some heavy subjects: death, family tension, grief and healing.
A great read - aloud for older children, wonderful for discussion starters. And I equally recommend this book to all my adult friends as well.
I first read Baby as a kid, and reread it every few years as an adult. It is powerful and beautiful and heart-wrenching.
The story deals wonderfully with some heavy subjects: death, family tension, grief and healing.
A great read - aloud for older children, wonderful for discussion starters. And I equally recommend this book to all my adult friends as well.
mschaub's review against another edition
4.0
If you like sad but at the same time happy books this is for you. I didn't like it in the begging but it kept getting beter. This is a short book and great for reports. It makes you think about life a differant way.