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3.11 AVERAGE
3.11 AVERAGE
Newbery Winner 1975
This one was not one of my favorite in the Newbery category. I wanted more to happen, or more resolution, I'm not sure.
This one was not one of my favorite in the Newbery category. I wanted more to happen, or more resolution, I'm not sure.
Generally, this is a really masterful children's novel. Hamilton's prose is impeccable, including her light use of vernacular (which never feels stereotyped or oversimplified). The characterization and development of setting are heartbreakingly specific and precise. Every detail is beautifully rendered, imaginative, and weighty. While I would say this book is rather light on plot, it reads far more "contemporary" than previous Newberys, with a somewhat stream-of-conscious style and a condensation of meaning that is unusual in kidlit. As a grown-up, I can certainly appreciate the subtlety of this story, I'm not sure that most kids would entirely enjoy this book.
The only thing keeping this book from five stars for me is a scene that felt too permissive of rape culture, in which MC sneaks up on a strange girl in the woods, kisses her against her will, and assaults her with a knife. While I could make a case for Hamilton's addressing the real problem of toxic masculinity in this scene (which she certainly does throughout the story), as a woman I found it to be disturbing and insufficiently addressed later in the book. If not for this one scene, this could have been a five-star book for me.
The only thing keeping this book from five stars for me is a scene that felt too permissive of rape culture, in which MC sneaks up on a strange girl in the woods, kisses her against her will, and assaults her with a knife. While I could make a case for Hamilton's addressing the real problem of toxic masculinity in this scene (which she certainly does throughout the story), as a woman I found it to be disturbing and insufficiently addressed later in the book. If not for this one scene, this could have been a five-star book for me.
This was not one of the better books I have read. It is about a young boy who lives with his family on Sarah's Mountain. They are very poor and walk everywhere they go. M.C. has a 40 foot pole that he won in a bet with his dad. On one end is a bicycle seat and on the other end are some wheels. He loves to climb up and just watch what is happening around the hills near him. His dream is for his family to escape the mountain. He see possibilities when a man comes to tape his mother's singing voice.
While I agree the writing was lovely, the plot of this novel left much to be desired. I think this was a case of "not a book for me" - I wasn't invested in the storyline at all. So things would interest me but then the author would go in another direction.
I really forced myself to reach the end of this. I did finish it, but spent most of the time either bored or confused. I could not visualize the descriptions, could not identify with any of the characters, and since I couldn’t identify what the plot was really meant to be, had a very difficult time understanding why most of the scenes were even necessary.
I am astounded that 1) this book is considered a children’s or YA book and 2) that it received the Newbery award.
I would not recommend this to anyone.
I am astounded that 1) this book is considered a children’s or YA book and 2) that it received the Newbery award.
I would not recommend this to anyone.
Such a strange book.
But I think people won't give it a fair shake because it's a novel that believes in its young reader's ability to know that MC is biased, imperfect, moody, and confused about his place in the world. In that way, the book depicts a classic form of adolescence. At the same time, though, the book is also about how many people never question who they could be but rather grow up into who they've always been destined (or told they should) become. MC's parents are the perfect example of this.
The book also contributes in an incredible way to the tradition of talking frankly about ownership and family in black literature. It's not simple, and it's not settled. Nothing in this book is--even the 40-foot steel pole that MC climbs bends and whirls and is more than it appears to be.
Unlike many readers on GR, I fully understand why the Newbery committee awarded this novel. It respects its readers and speaks to them on equal footing, without being didactic or pandering. I suspect a lot of people came to it expecting that normative treatment of children, and were not prepared for a novel that honestly and openly gave its young readers the freedom to draw their own conclusions.
But I think people won't give it a fair shake because it's a novel that believes in its young reader's ability to know that MC is biased, imperfect, moody, and confused about his place in the world. In that way, the book depicts a classic form of adolescence. At the same time, though, the book is also about how many people never question who they could be but rather grow up into who they've always been destined (or told they should) become. MC's parents are the perfect example of this.
The book also contributes in an incredible way to the tradition of talking frankly about ownership and family in black literature. It's not simple, and it's not settled. Nothing in this book is--even the 40-foot steel pole that MC climbs bends and whirls and is more than it appears to be.
Unlike many readers on GR, I fully understand why the Newbery committee awarded this novel. It respects its readers and speaks to them on equal footing, without being didactic or pandering. I suspect a lot of people came to it expecting that normative treatment of children, and were not prepared for a novel that honestly and openly gave its young readers the freedom to draw their own conclusions.
M.C. Higgins didn't seem all that great to me, unfortunately. I just didn't like the guy that much, even if pole-sitting and wearing lettuce leaves stuck in rubber bands around your wrists greeting the sun was interesting.
I wanted to like this book by Virginia Hamilton. I thought her descriptions of southern Ohio (or was it West Virginia or northern Kentucky?) were magical, and the characters were interesting. The parts about strip-mining were ominous and probably realistic. The witchy six-fingered Killburn family and their vegetable farm enclave were fascinating. The stuff about the dude coming to collect folk music was interesting, and I wished I could hear some of the songs Hamilton described. I loved the historical perspective and the family legends and the whole relationship between the Higgins family and Sarah's Mountain.
But I couldn't get past my initial dislike of M.C. and his father. I didn't like their relationship. I absolutely hated the way M.C. met Lurhetta, and wasn't too thrilled with most of his later interactions with her. I couldn't believe she was willing to have anything to do with M.C. (spoiler - space down to read rest of sentence if you don't mind me giving away some of the story)
after he cut her with a knife because she was going to bash him in the head after he jumped on her. Ugh.
And there wasn't much a plot in M.C. Higgins, the Great. I guess I don't mind that so much in some books (like Criss Cross, for instance)....when I like the characters and are curious about their lives and their thoughts. But that didn't work for me here.
It's not you, M.C., it's me....we're just not compatible. I enjoyed hearing about your home, though.
I wanted to like this book by Virginia Hamilton. I thought her descriptions of southern Ohio (or was it West Virginia or northern Kentucky?) were magical, and the characters were interesting. The parts about strip-mining were ominous and probably realistic. The witchy six-fingered Killburn family and their vegetable farm enclave were fascinating. The stuff about the dude coming to collect folk music was interesting, and I wished I could hear some of the songs Hamilton described. I loved the historical perspective and the family legends and the whole relationship between the Higgins family and Sarah's Mountain.
But I couldn't get past my initial dislike of M.C. and his father. I didn't like their relationship. I absolutely hated the way M.C. met Lurhetta, and wasn't too thrilled with most of his later interactions with her. I couldn't believe she was willing to have anything to do with M.C. (spoiler - space down to read rest of sentence if you don't mind me giving away some of the story)
after he cut her with a knife because she was going to bash him in the head after he jumped on her. Ugh.
And there wasn't much a plot in M.C. Higgins, the Great. I guess I don't mind that so much in some books (like Criss Cross, for instance)....when I like the characters and are curious about their lives and their thoughts. But that didn't work for me here.
It's not you, M.C., it's me....we're just not compatible. I enjoyed hearing about your home, though.
‘”I don’t know.” M.C. signed. “…But I’m getting tired of Daddy. Tired as I can be.”
“Come on,” Banina said. “We’ll miss the morning sun.” And later: “It’s not your daddy you tired of, M.C. It’s here. It’s this place. The same thing day after day is enemy to a growing boy.”
And all the ghosts, M.C. thought. All of the old ones.’
M.C. lives on the side of a mountain, just like his father before him and his grandmother before him. But all that must come to an end. Strip mining threatens to send a pile of rubble down on his home. M.C.’s father refuses to see it.
But M.C. is watching for ways to get away and one of the ways arrives in the form of a fellow recording songs. This fellow, this dude, as M.C. calls him, will get M.C.’s mother a singing contract and take the family away from the hills, M.C. thinks.
Another stranger visits, a girl traveling around the country, a city girl who shows M.C. other ways of thinking, of viewing his world, the bigger world. She could be a way out, M.C. thinks.
But again and again life disappoints, people disappoint. Out of the disappointments M.C. takes new knowledge and adds it to his old life, building a new life out of the old.
“Come on,” Banina said. “We’ll miss the morning sun.” And later: “It’s not your daddy you tired of, M.C. It’s here. It’s this place. The same thing day after day is enemy to a growing boy.”
And all the ghosts, M.C. thought. All of the old ones.’
M.C. lives on the side of a mountain, just like his father before him and his grandmother before him. But all that must come to an end. Strip mining threatens to send a pile of rubble down on his home. M.C.’s father refuses to see it.
But M.C. is watching for ways to get away and one of the ways arrives in the form of a fellow recording songs. This fellow, this dude, as M.C. calls him, will get M.C.’s mother a singing contract and take the family away from the hills, M.C. thinks.
Another stranger visits, a girl traveling around the country, a city girl who shows M.C. other ways of thinking, of viewing his world, the bigger world. She could be a way out, M.C. thinks.
But again and again life disappoints, people disappoint. Out of the disappointments M.C. takes new knowledge and adds it to his old life, building a new life out of the old.
This book is seriously dull. My teacher made us read it, even though she thought it so boring that she didn't even finish it herself. M.C. Higgins sits on his pole and contemplates the slag heap threatening his house. The end.