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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I'm still not quite sure what I think about this book. I found it intriguing in parts, slow in others. it's unusual and unexpected but then other parts I guessed early on.
Noah Barleywater Runs Away is a beautifully crafted modern fairytale which both children and adults alike will adore. Brilliantly bizzare from the very first page, John Boyne's latest children's book tells the story of Noah Barleywater, an eight-year-old boy who sets off to see the world with the intention of leaving all his cares and worries behind. He quickly becomes swept up in a strange, magical adventure, but upon meeting a very special toymaker he learns an important lesson in dealing with the trouble he has tried to leave behind.
This is a very difficult book to review, as explaining what makes it so brilliant would reveal dozens of spoilers. So I'll keep it short. With a story like this one, it's best to start reading with as little prior knowledge as possible. I won't go into the plot because it's a story that readers should discover for themselves. What I will say is that John Boyne has risen even higher in my estimations with this breathtaking reinvention of a popular classic tale. Noah Barleywater Runs Away has been referred to elsewhere as a "modern fable" and I think it's exactly that. This a brilliant new story for helping children to come to terms with loss and Boyne delivers an important life lesson that adults might care to remember, too. 5 stars.
This is a very difficult book to review, as explaining what makes it so brilliant would reveal dozens of spoilers. So I'll keep it short. With a story like this one, it's best to start reading with as little prior knowledge as possible. I won't go into the plot because it's a story that readers should discover for themselves. What I will say is that John Boyne has risen even higher in my estimations with this breathtaking reinvention of a popular classic tale. Noah Barleywater Runs Away has been referred to elsewhere as a "modern fable" and I think it's exactly that. This a brilliant new story for helping children to come to terms with loss and Boyne delivers an important life lesson that adults might care to remember, too. 5 stars.
John Boyne has once again spun a great story making you guess whom one of the main characters would actually be. The story set in a puppet toy shop should be a major clue. I enjoyed the weaving of that puppet classic with the complexity of a young boy dealing with the illness of a parent. Easy to read and understand. A book that will make it on my classroom shelves.
*3.5
John Boyne is a great author. I definitely enjoyed this book despite being older than the actual target group. Some bits appeared quite slow to me, but the ending was absolutely stunning and made me glad to have picked up this book. It's safe to say that it's a retelling of sorts - but you'll have to read it yourself to find out.
John Boyne is a great author. I definitely enjoyed this book despite being older than the actual target group. Some bits appeared quite slow to me, but the ending was absolutely stunning and made me glad to have picked up this book. It's safe to say that it's a retelling of sorts - but you'll have to read it yourself to find out.
Read for the Cybils (Middle Grade Science Fiction/Fantasy). Reminded me of The Phantom Tollbooth, but something is slightly off. I just can't put my finger on it.
Sweet children’s book. I like how John Boyne writes through children’s perspectives in his books, it was lighthearted but still had serious elements. Also had some life lessons .
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent
Noah Barleywater is a young boy who is having some trouble at home. As his mother grows more and more ill, his father grows more and more distant. Noah, not knowing how to deal with all of this, decides that running away is the best idea. In this fanciful tale, he has many strange adventures as he journeys through several nearby towns. In one such village, he meets an odd toymaker, who specializes in creating magnificent wooden puppets. This fellow may be familiar to readers from another favorite fairy tale story!
For my full review, please visit: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981392077
For my full review, please visit: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981392077
This was such a great book! There was also a GIANT twist at the end, which surprised me, but I'm not going to spoil it for you, incase you haven't read it yet!
Not Boyne's finest, but still imaginative. Honestly I'm not into fantasies, but surprised how Boyne does it.