This is the second book in this series, which I was excited to dive into after finishing the first! Aven is now starting high school, meaning she'll mThis is the second book in this series, which I was excited to dive into after finishing the first! Aven is now starting high school, meaning she'll meet all sorts of new people and have to face new stares and questions about why she doesn't have arms. She's always felt confident, but this new experience starts to shake her confidence and make her wonder if she'll be able to complete a jump on a horse like she'd hoped to, survive humiliation, make new friends, and also whether anyone will ever like her, like her.
I liked the first book of the series better overall, but this was still a very good book that I would definitely recommend to everyone who read the first one! Aven is such a charming main character, and I could easily sympathize with her as she tried to survive high school. I liked the friendships in here and the new characters (although I was sad that Connor didn't play as large of a role in this as he did in the first book) and the various situations that Aven found herself in.
I feel like this book seemed to have more "issues" that it tackled than the first one. There was still a minor overarching mystery and the core theme of friendships between people despite differences or challenges, but it also felt like there were heavier themes in here too. For example, bullying was a big plot line in here, and while it was handled well, it wasn't necessarily fun to read about. That said, I do think it gave the book a more realistic feel to it, and I liked the way this experience shaped Aven as she grew from it. There were just a few more uneven parts in here that seemed to stall a bit instead of moving forward with gusto, which is what had made the first book so perfect.
Overall, a solid follow up installment in this series! I love this world and its characters, and I am excited to see there's a third book coming out soon! ...more
In 2001, Brandon is a 9-year-old who goes to work with his father one morning. His dad works in New York City's World Trade Center, and neither of theIn 2001, Brandon is a 9-year-old who goes to work with his father one morning. His dad works in New York City's World Trade Center, and neither of them have any idea that tragedy is about to strike. When it does, Brandon has to summon all the courage he has to escape the terror around him. 18 years later, on the same day in 2019, Reshmina is an 11-year-old girl in Afghanistan who's struggling to learn English and struggling with her place in life, as her twin brother gets much more freedom and respect simply because he's a boy. She comes across a wounded American soldier who asks for help, and she has to rely on her convictions and her strength to figure out what's right.
My niece recommended this to me, and it was quite the intense read! I thought the author did a good job depicting both main characters and showing the reader their lives in a way that made them sympathetic and relatable. If you didn't have much insight as to what life was like in NYC on 9/11 or what life in general was like in Afghanistan, this would be a good introduction to both. I thought the author did well making both main characters interesting and relatable, and he also did a good job tying the story and the world together by the end. Not necessarily a "fun" book to read, but a good introduction for younger readers who perhaps don't know a lot about 9/11 or Afghanistan and want to read about heroism and the way actions can resonate for years and across countries. ...more
Aven was born without arms, but she can do almost everything someone with arms can do. She likes to make up stories about how she lost her arms, whichAven was born without arms, but she can do almost everything someone with arms can do. She likes to make up stories about how she lost her arms, which entertains her friends. Then her parents tell her that they've accepted a job at Stagecoach Pass, a cowboy theme park, that requires them to move from Kansas to Arizona, meaning that Aven will have to make new friends and answer questions about her missing arms over and over again. Once there, however, her life brightens when she befriends Connor, a classmate with Tourette's who also feels isolated because of his disability, and they uncover a mystery at Stagecoach Pass that keeps them searching for answers!
My niece recommended this book to me, and I'm so glad she did because this was so good! I'd never heard of this book before this and I don't know why. This was well-written, with endearing characters, an entertaining narrator, a nice message, and an interesting plot. I loved Aven's narration in here; the author absolutely nailed her voice, making her endearing and vulnerable yet also somehow proud and confident. There was also such a nice message throughout this book, showing how just because you're different doesn't mean you're any less capable, but I felt like this message just happened to be delivered by the plot instead of hitting the reader over the head with it. There was the perfect balance of plot, mystery, humor, and heart!
The supporting characters in here were also great. I loved the friendship Aven developed with Connor, and I also really liked her relationship with her parents. Everyone in here just felt so real and believable. Stagecoach Pass felt like a real place and it was fun to read about all the exploring Aven does after moving there. What an interesting place to live!
I am so glad I picked up there book and would easily recommend it to others. What a great book for both kids and adults to read! ...more
After Bea’s parents get divorced, they give her a notebook with a list of things that will not change, including the fact that they both love Bea and After Bea’s parents get divorced, they give her a notebook with a list of things that will not change, including the fact that they both love Bea and both love each other but in a different way. Now Bea’s dad is getting remarried to Jesse, a man Bea really likes, and this means Bea is going to get a sister since Jesse has a daughter her age who lives with her mom. Bea is excited to finally have a sister but worries about a lot of things, including whether everything will go smoothly and if her new sister will immediately feel like they’re sisters too.
This was such a sweet book and one that I think would be good for every kid to read, especially ones whose parents divorce. The author did an excellent job of capturing Bea’s voice in the narration, and I loved the way the story unfolded through her eyes. The characters all felt real and believable, each of them flawed in realistic ways but struggling to do their best. It was really thoughtful and sweet. Nothing ended up overly perfect or saccharine but was the right amount of hopeful. What a lovely book! ...more
This is the final book in this trilogy, each featuring a different main character traveling back in time and having an adventure there. In this, Zoe iThis is the final book in this trilogy, each featuring a different main character traveling back in time and having an adventure there. In this, Zoe is at Disneyworld with her friends and ends up traveling back in time to 1955 Hollywood, where she’s mistaken for a starlet named Stella. Stella is eager to exploit their similar features, hoping that Zoe can briefly take her place so she can sneak away from set. But of course purse things don’t go as smoothly as planned and both Stella and Zoe have to figure out how to get things back to normal!
This was a solid conclusion to the trilogy. I liked how the story came full circle, with stars from previous books making appearances in here. It’s definitely aimed at younger readers, but I can totally see myself having loved this had I read it growing up! The story is simple but fun, and I felt like the problems faced in this book were more exciting (and also more realistic) than the previous two books, which I also enjoyed. None of the books in this trilogy were especially deep or complex, but they were all lighthearted fun, which is exactly what I’d hoped they’d be!...more
This is a really cute follow up to Help! It's 1928!, this time following Carrie, a Disney-loving girl, on her birthday, which she celebrates with her This is a really cute follow up to Help! It's 1928!, this time following Carrie, a Disney-loving girl, on her birthday, which she celebrates with her college roommate, Riley, at the Magic Kingdom. There, she gets a key from a mysterious stranger and it unlocks a door that propels her into 1884, where she meets Princess Adelaide. The princess has a secret, and it's now up to Carrie to accompany her on a quest to make things right and then somehow find her way back to the present day.
There were some leaps in logic here that you have to be willing to suspend your disbelief for, but I'm confident that middle grade readers won't have the same nitpicks as me. I'm sure that if I'd read this as a kid, I would have just been loving the adventure and story without regard for how believable things were! It was a little silly, but it was also really cute and fun. I liked the setting in here and the foils to Carrie and Adelaide on their journey. It was also cute to see how Carrie and Riley can now both understand the other's adventures since they've each had a time traveling experience! Apparently there will be one final book to round out this trilogy, and I'm curious to read it and see how the series ends. ...more
Riley goes to Disney World with her sister in celebration of graduating high school, staying at a hotel inspired by Atlantic City. While there, she buRiley goes to Disney World with her sister in celebration of graduating high school, staying at a hotel inspired by Atlantic City. While there, she buys a necklace that ends up transporting her to the real Atlantic City in 1928! She can't figure out what's happening and is desperate to get back, but then she meets Eleanor, a girl her age who she immediately clicks with and who has troubles of her own. Riley can't leave without helping Eleanor but knows she soon has to return to the present or else she'll be stuck in 1928 forever!
This was a cute read! It's definitely short and quick to get through. There were a number of places where I thought a little more could be added to round the story out a little more, such as showing why Riley and Eleanor immediately clicked so well or perhaps setting the scene in the present day a little more solidly before introducing the time-travel element. But, if I were the target audience for this book (middle grade readers), I think I wouldn't have complaints because the story itself was so fun and kept moving forward. I really liked the adventures that Riley and Eleanor had together, and the story was filled with a lot of heart, magic, and female empowerment. I would have loved this book as a 10-12 year old! Looking forward to the next installment....more
Frigg is a young female dwarf who dreams of more adventure than she'll ever be allowed, thanks to the rules for the roles of males and females in NadaFrigg is a young female dwarf who dreams of more adventure than she'll ever be allowed, thanks to the rules for the roles of males and females in Nadavir, her underground dwarf colony, which is rapidly expanding thanks to all the magical creatures seeking refuge there. After trolls attack the colony and capture all the males, Frigg narrowly escapes with a few friends and they set off on a journey to find a legendary dwarf colony called Anasgar in the hopes that the dwarfs there will help them defeat the trolls and recapture Nadavir.
This is such a fun book! It reminded me a lot of the Oz books, especially with the group of different magical creatures (a dwarf, an elf, a faery, and a unicorn) banding together to travel toward a place they've only heard of in myths, hoping it still exists and that its inhabitants will be helpful. I liked the friendships between the four main characters, who all sparkled with their own personalities, and I loved the way Frigg was searching for assistance while also recognizing the strength and ingenuity already inside herself.
The story moved forward at a nice pace, and I really enjoyed Frigg's journey. The characters she met along the way were fun, the world was entertainingly magical, and the dialogue between the characters was very engaging. This is definitely a book that will be enjoyed by middle grade readers! I enjoyed it as an adult, but I think reading it when younger would have been even more enjoyable. Looking forward to the next installment in this series!
I received a free copy of this book to review. ...more
This was an interesting, if uneven, book. Three stories are told in here at once, intersecting at the end. The main story is about a boy named DonovanThis was an interesting, if uneven, book. Three stories are told in here at once, intersecting at the end. The main story is about a boy named Donovan whose teacher assigns a book to read about two boys trying to stop an evil genius. The book doesn't seem like anything special, and he leaves it out at home instead of reading it, only to have his mother find the book, read one sentence in there noting that the two main characters loved each other, and assume it's about gay characters and thus not appropriate to be read at school. His mom raises a fuss, and soon the entire town is buzzing about whether the two main characters actually are gay and whether this book is appropriate for kids to read. Donovan himself reads the book to see what the fuss is about and doesn't understand why there's such a debate about it.
The premise of this book was good, and the author did a nice job telling the main story. There were a lot of interesting points made in here, and it was very thoughtfully written. However, the book was quite short (it is middle-grade, after all) and the main story was further shortened because the main plot was told alongside two other stories that I found less engaging. I appreciated what the author was trying to do with this book and think he did a nice job describing the problems with book banning to a younger audience, but it didn't feel quite as cohesive or interesting as I wanted it to be. Parts were really good, and I did like the main story, but I lost interest in other chapters....more
I can't remember how I heard of this book - I might have just seen it as a recommended book at the library. Mia and her parents immigrated to the U.S.I can't remember how I heard of this book - I might have just seen it as a recommended book at the library. Mia and her parents immigrated to the U.S. from China, thinking they'd soon have an amazing life. They end up working and living at a hotel, where the owner is mean and doesn't pay them much, but they're scared to do anything about it because a job and a place to live is better than nothing. At school, Mia doesn't fully fit in but she's trying, the same way she tries to pretend her life is different than what it actually is. Still, at the hotel, she works as the "manager" behind the front desk, checking people in, and dreams about something bigger and better for her family and wonders what she can do to make their dreams a reality.
This was really sweet and thoughtful! I loved the way the story unfolded, and I was immediately drawn into the lives of Mia and her family. I could understand why they were struggling, felt their pain but also their small victories, and continually wished for something better for them. The writing was excellent, and while this is a middle grade novel, the content was a bit more complex than expected yet still perfectly readable and understandable for the target audience. There were times when I felt so frustrated and helpless for Mia and wanted to shout that things weren't fair. Other times, I wanted to cheer her on as she came up with plans for how to help her family and friends.
Apparently this is the first book in a series. I have no idea where this will go, as the story wrapped up nicely, but I'm looking forward to eventually reading the additional books. I really enjoyed this and would easily recommend it to others, especially to middle grade readers, as I think it helps give perspective and a glimpse into the lives of others, leading to more understanding and compassion. ...more
I read an interview with the author somewhere recently, talking about this book and the awards it's won for the portrayal of a transgender kid and howI read an interview with the author somewhere recently, talking about this book and the awards it's won for the portrayal of a transgender kid and how simply this explains the difficulties kids face when they're different. I hadn't heard of this before but figured I should read it.
George was born a boy but knows she's really a girl. She knows she's different but doesn't quite know how to express it or how to make others understand and appreciate her for who she is. When her class puts on a play of Charlotte's Web, George wants to be Charlotte more than anything, but the teacher says only girls can play that role. Initially crushed, George soon started plotting with her best friend about how she can change her role in the play and how she can show everyone who she really is.
This was a very short, simple, but engaging book. The author did a nice job keeping this focused on George and her challenges, making her emotions understandable to the younger readers this is aimed at. It was quick to read, and although the story itself was simple, the characters had enough complexity that it was continually interesting. Not everything in here was magically "perfect" by the end of the book, and this wasn't an overarching story of George's life, simply a snapshot of her life during a short period of time when she's struggling and feeling very alone with her emotions. The relationships between George and family and friends were so well done, and everything read very smoothly.
This was a very sweet read and would make a nice introduction to transgender issues for kids who might be feeling alone or simply open the eyes of other kids to the fact that there are all kinds of people out there and how everyone struggles with something different, allowing for a greater understanding of these sort of complexities. Perhaps this ended on a bit more of a hopeful note than many actual transgender people feel in real life, but sometimes the purpose of reading is to see a world that gives you hope, and this certainly accomplishes what it set out to do!...more
This is basically a fairytale about the kingdom of Cornucopia, where each region has its own specialty food that is so amazing that people with weep fThis is basically a fairytale about the kingdom of Cornucopia, where each region has its own specialty food that is so amazing that people with weep from joy. One region is not so happy and lucky: the Marshlands, where a creature called the Ickabog is said to live. One day, the king and his entourage journey to the Marshlands and come back claiming that they've seen the Ickabog and that the kingdom needs to change as it gears up to fight this monster.
I'm not sure what exactly I expected from this book, but it was different from my expectations and quite enjoyable! There did seem to be a lot of death in here for a story aimed at children, although none of it was violent, but I guess this is true of a lot of fairytales. I really enjoyed the story in here and thought the writing was lovely and engaging. This wasn't just a fairytale but also a parable about a lot of things: how rumors work, how people can be influenced, the ways in which power can corrupt, how lies spiral out of control, and how delicate of a balance it is for a kingdom to be prosperous or be in need.
Parts of this story seemed a little simplistic, such as the ways in which the heroes decide to solve the problem in the end, but it was still quite entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed this and keep reading, curious what would happen next. I also love that this was released during Covid and there was a competition for kids to illustrate the story; the winners of that are included in this book! I don't know if this is something I'll reread, but it was definitely a nice book to read and I'd recommend it to most ages, since both the story and the messages were good. ...more
I've read a number of books by Gordon Korman and they've always been funny and engaging, so I figured an audiobook of his newest novel would be quite I've read a number of books by Gordon Korman and they've always been funny and engaging, so I figured an audiobook of his newest novel would be quite entertaining for a long car ride! This is the story of a group of 8th graders who've been deemed "unteachable" for one reason or another and sent to SCS8, a special one-teacher class that's been assigned to Mr. Kermit, a formerly talented teacher who's now burned out and counting down the days until early retirement. In the classroom, there's Rahim, who sleeps and draws all day; Mateo, who likes to spout out sci-fi and comic facts; Elaine (rhymes with pain), who everyone has stories about; Parker, who has a reading disability and also has a provisional driver's license for farm business; Aldo, who has anger management issues; Barnstorm, a former sports star now on crutches; and Kiana, who's not actually registered for any classes at the school. Over the course of the semester, the kids somehow band together and form a team while Mr. Kermit struggles to find his passion again and beat the superintendent, who's determined to fire him or make him quit so they won't have to pay retirement.
There was a lot of potential in here, and I liked parts of it. The book is alternately narrated by each of the seven students, plus Mr. Kermit, plus a few others at the school - that's a LOT of points of view! It didn't take me long to be able to tell the characters apart, perhaps because they each had very distinct characteristics. Each narration seemed to offer some of the same commentary, which quickly grew repetitive: everyone mentioned how Mr. Kermit seemed to be barely conscious, there were multiple instances of Parker being a terrible driver despite having a provisional driver's license, legends about Elaine (rhymes with pain) were repeated time and time again, etc. Perhaps it's because I'm not the books's target audience, but I didn't find the repetitive stories funny and instead felt like I was hearing the exact same story (which I already knew) from someone else's slightly different perspective.
The book picked up about halfway through, as the plot actually started to progress, Mr. Kermit being forced to confront what made him lose his enthusiasm for teaching (a cheating scandal blamed on him) and the kids beginning to show enthusiasm for some of their schoolwork. At the same time, I felt like this book could have been so much more: funnier situations, more interesting subplots for all the characters, less repetitiveness, and a stronger plot in general. It wasn't bad but it wasn't a story I was ever eager to return to. I imagine middle grade readers might be more forgiving with their critiques and thus enjoy this a lot more than I did. ...more
What a great book! Noah is stuck in a wheelchair, thanks to a car accident that killed his dad, and is angry that he can't play baseball anymore, angrWhat a great book! Noah is stuck in a wheelchair, thanks to a car accident that killed his dad, and is angry that he can't play baseball anymore, angry that he can't move his body like he used to, and angry that everyone is trying to make him be positive when he can't find anything to be optimistic about. When a new kid transfers to his school without knowing anything about Noah's past and his mom is making decisions that Noah disapproves of, Noah starts to realize that being angry isn't getting him anywhere and that he actually has to face his fears and face the problems he hasn't wanted to think about.
There was so much I loved about this book. Noah is a great main character. He's funny in his observations about others - sarcastic and snarky, but in a way that's understandable because he's dealing with a lot of problems and this is how he copes. He doesn't necessarily dwell on his problems, but they're always present in his life, and the author did such a nice job balancing this without turning the book into something either unrealistic or depressing. There were no easy answers to the problems Noah was dealing with - the difficult of going to PT, his father's absence, the inability to get around by himself - and the author touched upon all of these issues without making this an "issues" book. This was simply about Noah's life and how he copes with everything while growing up.
I loved all the characters in here. Noah was an engaging main character, and all the supporting characters were strong as well. I enjoyed the relationships he had with friends at school (especially the new friend), with other kids who weren't his friends (like the former friend who still somewhat bullies him... or the kid who's also struggling through PT but doing so with ridiculous optimism... or the kid he's annoyed with after their parents start seeing each other), and with his mom. Everyone was nicely drawn and believable. I enjoyed all the different personalities in here and how no one was perfect but no one was terrible either. It was simply a nice look at all the different personalities in life.
For all that Noah wished for his life to be "normal" again, this book did a lovely job showing how he also recognized that the "normal" he'd once known didn't exist anymore and that he had to somehow come to terms with the unfair situation he was now in. Instead of the book showing how everything eventually becomes perfect again, it depicted Noah getting accustomed to what was now his new normal and realizing that others were doing the best that they could too. I'd highly recommend this book to others!...more
I can't remember where I heard of this book, but it sounded like a fun middle grade novel. Jack has a talent for finding things, and what he needs to I can't remember where I heard of this book, but it sounded like a fun middle grade novel. Jack has a talent for finding things, and what he needs to find now is his dad, who's gone missing. Turns out, his dad was part of a top secret organization called the Lost Property Office. A mysterious figure known as the Clockmaker tells Jack that he has his dad and the only way he'll ever see him again is if he finds something called the Ember, so now Jack's on a race across London with a clerk in the Lost Property Office to find clues that might lead them to this.
I liked the storyline in here and did find it quite cute. The idea of a secret society dedicated to finding lost things using a special skillset was clever, and it had a nice blend of mystery, fantasy, and history. Their travels through London were entertaining, as Jack is not familiar with the city or its history and relies on Gwen, the clerk, for a lot of this. The way this was meshed together reminded me somewhat of The 39 Clues series.
While I did like the ideas in here and the story in general, it did seem a little too easy or convenient in parts, and some of the dialogue felt a bit stilted. I didn't truly understand the motives behind certain things (like, who exactly was the Clockmaker?) and so a lot of the tension seemed to drain away because it lacked depth. I realize this is a middle grade novel so it's expected that things are slightly more obvious or simple than a book aimed at an older audience, but there just didn't seem to be enough excitement to truly carry the story forward.
I read about half the book because it was cute, but then realized I was mostly just going through the motions and didn't truly care about the story, so I set the book aside. Not bad by any means, and I do think this was clever, but it just wasn't one that held my attention enough to finish. Perhaps I would have liked this much more if I'd read it when young!...more
This book came highly recommended to me and did not disappoint! Ada is ten years old when WWII begins, living in London with her younger brother and tThis book came highly recommended to me and did not disappoint! Ada is ten years old when WWII begins, living in London with her younger brother and their abusive mother, who won't let her talk to anyone or even go outside because she was born with a club foot. When children are evacuated to the countryside for safety, Ada secretly follows her brother and they get placed with Susan, a woman who doesn't want them... but who treats them better than Ada or her brother have ever experienced. Slowly, Ada learns to believe that she is capable of all sorts of things despite her clubfoot and she even begins to trust Susan, all the while worrying that it can't last and that eventually she will be sent back to her mother.
This was such a sweet book. It didn't gloss over more difficult parts of the war, including the death tolls, and it didn't gloss over the abuse that Ada suffered from her mother. But it did an amazing job of showing the growing relationship between Ada and Susan and how Ada slowly lets her guard down and comes to believe that her life actually can have meaning and that she doesn't "deserve" to be treated the way her mother treated her. I really enjoyed the relationships in this book and thought the author did such a good job portraying these struggles and difficulties, as well as the eventual triumphs.
The book definitely was more about the characters and the relationships between them than about any plot, but this was done so well that I didn't mind. There was a plot, albeit one focused mostly on inner growth, and I cared about the characters enough to want to keep reading. I can see why this book received awards and think it would be an excellent read for kids learning about history and about disabilities. Very nicely done and lovely to read!...more
This was a nice "chapter" to round out the book Wonder, told from the perspective of the main instigator of the bullying in the novel. It was nice to This was a nice "chapter" to round out the book Wonder, told from the perspective of the main instigator of the bullying in the novel. It was nice to see Julian as a more dimensional character, with reasons (in his own mind) for why he acted the way he did and how his parents reacted to it as well. I liked the fact that the author didn't go the "easy" route and make Julian misunderstood or simply needing attention or whatever at home; instead, he turned into a more relatable person in here because he was simply human. He's not necessarily likable but this chapter does show that change is possible and that there is always more going on than we know about in someone's life. Quick read but very nice addition that seemed to round out the story even more....more
Crow is a zombie, but a different type of zombie than you'd think - he's a living dead boy, still growing and living but definitely not alive. He stayCrow is a zombie, but a different type of zombie than you'd think - he's a living dead boy, still growing and living but definitely not alive. He stays inside with his mom all day so no one knows what's happening to him, but then a new family moves next door and their daughter is determined to be friends with Crow. She's his first friend since he became the living dead boy, and Crow's thrilled to have a friend, especially since she guesses his secret and doesn't seem put off in the slightest. They go to the park one night and catch sight of Meera, a shape shifting monster that can grant wishes, and might even be the monster that brought him bad to life as a living dead boy. If Crow passes its tests, he might be granted the wish to be fully alive again.
This was a cute idea and an entertaining story. The author must have had a lot of fun writing this and I can see how kids would enjoy reading it. The story is clever and different from other books I've read, and I appreciated the new take on a "zombie story". Crow is a nice main character and I liked the friendship that developed between he and Melody.
The story was very simple, as expected from a middle grade novel, and although I did like the story, parts of it seemed slightly stagnant - not standing still exactly but I think parts were supposed to feel more exciting than they did, and although I was intrigued by the story and curious where it would go, I ended up not finishing and instead just skipping to the end to see how it'd wrap up. I think I'm just not the right audience for this, since it was a clever book, and I imagine that the target audience will enjoy it more than me!...more
It took hearing a lot of raving about this book for me to finally pick it up, but I'm glad I read it and can now understand the praise for it! This teIt took hearing a lot of raving about this book for me to finally pick it up, but I'm glad I read it and can now understand the praise for it! This tells the story of Auggie, a fifth grader who's going to school for the first time after having been homeschooled his entire life. He's nervous, not just with new student jitters, but because he was born with a serious facial deformity that has caused people to stare at him and cringe his whole life. Auggie feels like he's actually quite ordinary, but it's difficult for people to get past their initial assessment of his looks.
This story was really well put together and gives a lot to think about. It's told, mostly, from Auggie's perspective, but there are also parts from other points of views: his sister, his classmates, etc., all telling the same story about Auggie but from their own perspectives. I really liked seeing how Auggie affected the lives of others around him and made them confront their own issues as well. This wasn't done with a heavy hand, which made this incredibly readable.
I think this book would be great for all kids to read. I think it's natural to be surprised or frightened by someone who looks different, but the various reactions by kids (and adults) in this book made for thoughtful moments; it wasn't necessarily only kids who treated Auggie poorly based on his looks but also adults. I think the idea of how we treat others and how this kindness (or not) affects them was really well done in here. This book had important points about how we treat others, how we judge others, and what is important in life, all wrapped up in a nice story with characters I continually rooted for. Recommended reading for sure!...more
3.5 stars. I can't remember how I heard of this book, but I've been meaning to read it for a few years and only not got around to doing so. The story 3.5 stars. I can't remember how I heard of this book, but I've been meaning to read it for a few years and only not got around to doing so. The story in here sounded enchanting: near the end of WWII, Jack is sent to a boarding school for boys in Maine, a place he finds foreign and where he doesn't quite fit in. There, he learns about rowing and about searching for a holy grail - a teacher tells them about someone whose holy grail is to prove that Pi eventually comes to an end - and he also meets a boy named Early. Early doesn't always come to class and isn't the most social, but he's quite smart and teaches Jack a lot about life. Over school break, Early tells Jack he's going to set off on his own "holy grail" quest down the Appalachian Trail, and Jack joins him for the journey.
The author did a nice job with the setting in this book. The school came to life, and I could easily picture the group of boys in the school. Jack's motivations were understandable, and I liked the friendship that developed between Jack and Early. I also liked the underlying story that they were both searching for something. While the book started out slow, I did enjoy the build. Once their journey on the trail got underway, the situations they found themselves in weren't always the most believable (for me, anyway), nor did they seem as magical as I wanted them to. For example, they run into "pirates" on the river, and that whole storyline kinda underwhelmed me. But when their journey was coming to a close, the author wrapped things up really well. Their internal journeys were wonderful.
There were mini-chapters in this book that told a story about a boy named Pi, a boy whose journey mirrored the numbers in the number Pi, and these parts of the story kinda threw me - especially the first few times these chapters appeared. This was a story that Early was telling to Jack in parts, but the story of Pi didn't interest me much, even though the telling was supposed to mirror their own journey. It seemed to border on filler material for me, but perhaps others loved it. I also wasn't super crazy about the actual adventures they had while on the trail, although there were moments (particularly how some of the people they met had their stories intertwined with each other) that were touching.
Overall, this wasn't a book that I loved, but it was very thoughtful. It did have its moments that stayed with me, things I thought about after finishing the book, so that was nice. Not necessarily a "happy" book (nor a sad one, for that matter), but the general mood of this book was a little more somber than many other books out there....more