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A review by wrentheblurry
Frenchtown Summer by Robert Cormier
4.0
GENRE: Fiction, realistic fiction, verse.
SUMMARY: Eugene experienced a busy summer. He had a paper route, got glasses, endeavored to learn more about his family, and visited the cemetery, among many other adventures. So much happens to Eugene during that summer, and he is hyper-aware of it all, from how his piano teacher smells to the few things that his older brother cares about.
EVALUATION: Written in verse and told through a first-person perspective, Frenchtown Summer takes the reader on a magical journey to experience things at a certain place and time in a young boy's life. Sometimes before we can figure out who we are, it helps to figure out what kind of people your parents are. Eugene understands his mother, though his father remains a mystery and distant from him, until a special incident brings them closer together. I really enjoyed Eugene's telling of how he saw his world.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: A solid tween collection should include some variety, and this fictional account is told in a verse format that may not be fully familiar with some tweens. It can be read fairly quickly, though it still contains a strong story that includes much activity.
READER'S ANNOTATION: Through the eyes of Eugene we learn about Frenchtown one summer, its locations, some of its inhabitants and the varied things they do.
ITEMS WITH SIMILAR APPEAL:
• Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse.
• Stop Pretending by Sonya Sones.
• Foreign Exchange by Mel Glenn.
SUMMARY: Eugene experienced a busy summer. He had a paper route, got glasses, endeavored to learn more about his family, and visited the cemetery, among many other adventures. So much happens to Eugene during that summer, and he is hyper-aware of it all, from how his piano teacher smells to the few things that his older brother cares about.
EVALUATION: Written in verse and told through a first-person perspective, Frenchtown Summer takes the reader on a magical journey to experience things at a certain place and time in a young boy's life. Sometimes before we can figure out who we are, it helps to figure out what kind of people your parents are. Eugene understands his mother, though his father remains a mystery and distant from him, until a special incident brings them closer together. I really enjoyed Eugene's telling of how he saw his world.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: A solid tween collection should include some variety, and this fictional account is told in a verse format that may not be fully familiar with some tweens. It can be read fairly quickly, though it still contains a strong story that includes much activity.
READER'S ANNOTATION: Through the eyes of Eugene we learn about Frenchtown one summer, its locations, some of its inhabitants and the varied things they do.
ITEMS WITH SIMILAR APPEAL:
• Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse.
• Stop Pretending by Sonya Sones.
• Foreign Exchange by Mel Glenn.