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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Martha didn't even know Olive very well, but when the classmate who was always a little odd, a little scapegoated, dies unexpectedly, Martha is stunned when Olive's mother hand-delivers a note that reveals Martha and Olive shared the same dream: to become a published author. Furthermore, Olive had hoped she and Martha would become friends in the coming school year. As Martha enjoys her summer vacation on Cape Cod, lingering thoughts of Olive and mortality fill her days as she becomes closer than ever to her aging and beloved grandmother Godbee. In between contemplating the meaning of life, death and everything in between, Martha passes her time babysitting her younger sister, writing, and playing with the next door neighbors (a trio of unruly boys), one whom plays a nasty trick on her.
Henkes has perfectly captured that prepubescent time in a young girl's life when she wavers between being humiliated by her mother and wanting to be held, a time when you can feel glittery and on top of the world until a crushing comment from your brother brings you crashing back down to earth. The lovely thing about this book is that Henkes conveys this moody period honestly without resorting to angst or catastrophe or drama. The book has the ebb-and-flow feel of the ocean as his perfectly-paced narrative ranges from chapters consisting solely of dialogue to poetic lines like "the sky was full - of blue and sun." and "the ocean like a big blue overcoat zippered me up." Beautifully written, this gem of a novel is well-deserving of the Newbery honor award.
Henkes has perfectly captured that prepubescent time in a young girl's life when she wavers between being humiliated by her mother and wanting to be held, a time when you can feel glittery and on top of the world until a crushing comment from your brother brings you crashing back down to earth. The lovely thing about this book is that Henkes conveys this moody period honestly without resorting to angst or catastrophe or drama. The book has the ebb-and-flow feel of the ocean as his perfectly-paced narrative ranges from chapters consisting solely of dialogue to poetic lines like "the sky was full - of blue and sun." and "the ocean like a big blue overcoat zippered me up." Beautifully written, this gem of a novel is well-deserving of the Newbery honor award.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
re-reading this book this time each year is my favorite way to say goodbye to summer
This is my first Kevin Henkes chapter book and it did not disappoint ! A very good story about a young girl processing her feelings and going through some traumatic events for a pre teen. I enjoyed it and it was a quick read.
Sweet novel about a 12yo as she grows up over a summer holiday at the beach, experiences first puppy love and disappointment and finds out who she is. Sweet and innocent.
Despite the Newbery honor this book just didn’t grab my interest. It seemed to be well written so I think it was the story that was not engaging enough for me.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Excellent portrait of a young girl beginning to make the transition from childhood to teenager, with her experiences of heart and mind becoming very different, bringing confusion with that realization.
Olive is a sort of spectral figure as well as a catalyst in Martha's world. Martha's relationship with her grandmother is pivotal, and it was a lovely thing to watch unfold. I most appreciated Henkes' exposure of, unfortunately, the very real and all too common experience of girls being used as objects of amusement by boys at that age; Martha's reaction to it when she realizes what has happened was spot on. I just hope some boy might read this book and refrain from those kinds of things. And he balanced it with a male character who was not that type of person and indeed showed great respect for Martha.
Henkes' writing is extremely poetic, which was another plus. All in all a very poignant book. His most important lesson about the necessity of kindness, both given and taken, as one makes a path in a sometimes mystifying life is something everyone needs to hear.
Olive is a sort of spectral figure as well as a catalyst in Martha's world. Martha's relationship with her grandmother is pivotal, and it was a lovely thing to watch unfold. I most appreciated Henkes' exposure of, unfortunately, the very real and all too common experience of girls being used as objects of amusement by boys at that age; Martha's reaction to it when she realizes what has happened was spot on. I just hope some boy might read this book and refrain from those kinds of things. And he balanced it with a male character who was not that type of person and indeed showed great respect for Martha.
Henkes' writing is extremely poetic, which was another plus. All in all a very poignant book. His most important lesson about the necessity of kindness, both given and taken, as one makes a path in a sometimes mystifying life is something everyone needs to hear.