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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
informative
medium-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:
Complicated
I loved this one. Mamie reminded me a bit of myself. As a kid, I would have picked the least popular thing because I was afraid it would feel bad and then tell people it was really the best. I love episolatory novels, like this one and I think the style really works. I also thought the potential disintegration of the family made sense. I didn't like that it was happening, but it felt real. This is a great story.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 stars. A very precocious young girl is pulled into the thrill of the Apollo 11 launch and Moonwalk. I loved the history and her friendship with a neighbor boy. Her character seemed older than her age and her sixteen year old sister seemed a lot younger.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
What a great MG book. I totally would have been friends with Mamie and Buster. Loved them. And the book has a cat 😺. ❤️
Written entirely in the format of letters to astronaut Michael Collins, this book is unique in the genre of children's lit. I think I might have enjoyed it a little more than my 3-5 grade students, but anyone who is a fan of space travel will appreciate it. A great historical fiction for young readers.
I enjoyed this book because it was a great historical fiction book, but about someone lesser known and I definitely learned something new reading this book.
Short and cozy, this is a book about the moon landing and one girl's uncertainty when her family sort of falls apart. It turns out that one can get through just about anything with one good friend. Mamie is a peculiar girl, but she is resourceful and clever, even if she spills her entire life's story to a stranger in NASA. As an adult, I couldn't help but worry for her as things went wrong, but the resolution and her realizations brought me to tears. Baratz-Logsted did a lovely job explaining the space race and the need for someone to be the one on the Columbia waiting for the Eagle to get back from the moon. It truly made me smile (almost to the point of tears), and I'm glad that I read this little book.
What a delightful book! This book was an easy, enjoyable read. I loved the letter style even though I don't find it realistic that a 10 year old would write letters like this. The writing style was just the right amount of childish to be believable without being annoying. There were quite a few things that I found myself getting frustrated with. Namely, how horrible this girl's family is. However, her friendship with Buster was the best part of this book and it made me want to read more relationships like that one. I was supremely disappointed with the final letter in the book, but overall I enjoyed this read.
2.5 stars. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I thought it was going into it. I was expecting more space! Moon! Astronauts! Instead got lots of trouble marriage in the 60s. It was well written, just not for me.