Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
I loved this book and read it in one sitting! It was a wonderful mix of reality and fantasy. The story is about a 10 year old girl named Willodeen who has suffered great loss. She is different and doesn't always fit in, a theme that young readers will certainly understand and relate to. Willodeen feels more comfortable with nature than she does with people. She especially loves and closely observes one special kind of animal called a screecher that most others consider a nuisance or pest. The survival of her town depends on the arrival of the hummingbears each year who make beautiful bubble nests and bring in tourists. When the hummingbears dwindle and then don't arrive at all, everyone is looking for a solution. Does Willodeen's careful notes contain an answer to their problems? You will have to read it to find out! I am a middle school science teacher and I think this will be a wonderful read aloud for the beginning of the school year. Even though she doesn't know it, Willodeen is a scientist. This will be a great example of real world science. Being observant and asking the right questions will lead you to the correct tests to run. This would also be a good book to read for Earth day because it has environmental themes as well. I think this book will be a big hit and I am thankful to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy!
I am not a Katherine Applegate fan... her books always feel manipulative to me, designed to create an experience. There was so much to like about this book - she does all the right things, but it just didn't come together for me.
Willodeen is a lonely girl who prefers the outdoors and animals of the woods to school. Her particular favorite is screechers. The villagers despise the screechers and place a bounty on the animals. But there is an unexpected consequence of the killing of the animal. --- one not realized by the townspeople. Each year the town had a festival in honor of the hummingbears. But one year the hummingbears did not come the town of Perchance and the festival was in jeopardy. No one knew why they weren't back.
The story is an understated tale of the interwoven connections between animals, plants and man. Willodeen is here to find that connection .
I enjoyed the understated connection between the town and Willodeen who was a champion for the animals. Good read, recommend it for both children and sdults,
The story is an understated tale of the interwoven connections between animals, plants and man. Willodeen is here to find that connection .
I enjoyed the understated connection between the town and Willodeen who was a champion for the animals. Good read, recommend it for both children and sdults,
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
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:
Complicated
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a wonderfully weird story.
Willodeen is a young girl who lives in a town that has an odd commodity—hummingbears. These creatures are unique and beautiful, and they draw crowds from far and wide to see them. However, another creature that dwells in her town are the Screechers—odd, smelly boar-type beings that mostly keep to themselves. After a horrible fire leaves Willodeen orphaned, she finds that it is her voice alone that can stand up to the adults who want to get rid of the screechers.
Like I said, this is a very strange book and I feel like there are some kids that just would not get it. That being said, I feel like there is a HUGE connection to the difference that a person can make, and if this were a book club or class book, I really think this could be tied to a service learning project to help make a difference in our communities. Really powerful message and a good example of allegory for younger students!
Willodeen is a young girl who lives in a town that has an odd commodity—hummingbears. These creatures are unique and beautiful, and they draw crowds from far and wide to see them. However, another creature that dwells in her town are the Screechers—odd, smelly boar-type beings that mostly keep to themselves. After a horrible fire leaves Willodeen orphaned, she finds that it is her voice alone that can stand up to the adults who want to get rid of the screechers.
Like I said, this is a very strange book and I feel like there are some kids that just would not get it. That being said, I feel like there is a HUGE connection to the difference that a person can make, and if this were a book club or class book, I really think this could be tied to a service learning project to help make a difference in our communities. Really powerful message and a good example of allegory for younger students!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A little transparent in its preachiness, but I love that it tackles tough, complex topics in tough, complex ways (environmental/ecological concerns vs. the personal consequences of economic impact) in a way that's accessible to early readers. I find myself handing this one to second, third, and fourth graders, which is nice -- the amount of white space on the page feels appropriate for that reading level. Also, I want a pet hummingbear!
A quick read and a satisfying fantasy showing how nature is interconnected. Plenty of trauma around losing family members, so maybe not a read aloud for younger kiddos. Third and up.