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I always marvel at Sharon Creech’s ability to make me feel so much in so few and simple words. I’ve been reading her works since I was a child, and I love them all very dearly. This novel made of several free verse poems is different from her others in form. It always takes some adjusting for me to read novels that are formatted differently, like graphic novels or novels made of vignettes. This one flowed very well from the start, though. When I first began reading, I thought the language was extremely simplistic, and I read at a fast pace because I felt that the novel was for a much younger audience. However, I soon slowed down because there is more to love and to discover with a careful reading, and I realized that this novel is impactful for all ages.
Creech weaves a beautiful story with a few simple, but wonderful moments in the life of young Annie. The running, the learning, the drawing, the waiting, all come to a touching end as Annie, strong of will and heart, learns about life from her best friend, Max, from her art teacher, from her grandfather, and from her newborn baby brother. Annie is determined and very focused. Running is her passion and art is her creative outlet. She doesn’t really change character throughout the novel, but she does find beauty in the simplicity of her day-to-day life. She notices the birches and the red barn as she runs her course. She sees how complex an apple is and learns to apply different perspectives to her view of the world around her. She also teaches Max to find beauty in life when he forgets to take time to enjoy it.
I really cannot even express how sweet and heartwarming this novel is. I love the minimalism of it now. It represents how the small things in life should be treasured. It’s beautiful.
I would definitely teach this novel to my students. I think they would appreciate an easy read, but then I would be sure to show them what all this novel holds. I would focus on imagery of the apple and how it transforms over time. Then I will connect that to the motif of renewal that appears throughout. Max’s newfound purpose in running and the birth of the baby are great examples of that. The apple seed at the end also represents the circular motion of life. The grandfather is the old, which ushers in the new. The novel also depicts transformations. Annie’s apple transforms in her eyes. Max loves running, then becomes frustrated, but then learns to appreciate it once again. The grandfather loses his memories some days and other days he give poignant advice to Annie. Annie’s relationship with Max transforms over time as well as they grow apart and together. Romance may even blossom in the future. Heartbeat really has great themes, images, and motifs to work with. I know students would appreciate the novel because the message is so powerful.
Creech weaves a beautiful story with a few simple, but wonderful moments in the life of young Annie. The running, the learning, the drawing, the waiting, all come to a touching end as Annie, strong of will and heart, learns about life from her best friend, Max, from her art teacher, from her grandfather, and from her newborn baby brother. Annie is determined and very focused. Running is her passion and art is her creative outlet. She doesn’t really change character throughout the novel, but she does find beauty in the simplicity of her day-to-day life. She notices the birches and the red barn as she runs her course. She sees how complex an apple is and learns to apply different perspectives to her view of the world around her. She also teaches Max to find beauty in life when he forgets to take time to enjoy it.
I really cannot even express how sweet and heartwarming this novel is. I love the minimalism of it now. It represents how the small things in life should be treasured. It’s beautiful.
I would definitely teach this novel to my students. I think they would appreciate an easy read, but then I would be sure to show them what all this novel holds. I would focus on imagery of the apple and how it transforms over time. Then I will connect that to the motif of renewal that appears throughout. Max’s newfound purpose in running and the birth of the baby are great examples of that. The apple seed at the end also represents the circular motion of life. The grandfather is the old, which ushers in the new. The novel also depicts transformations. Annie’s apple transforms in her eyes. Max loves running, then becomes frustrated, but then learns to appreciate it once again. The grandfather loses his memories some days and other days he give poignant advice to Annie. Annie’s relationship with Max transforms over time as well as they grow apart and together. Romance may even blossom in the future. Heartbeat really has great themes, images, and motifs to work with. I know students would appreciate the novel because the message is so powerful.