Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Characters: Kenny, Byron, Joetta, Mr. and Mrs. Watson
This book about a family that lives in Michigan, though the mom is from Alabama. Kenny has a lazy eye that he worries gets him teased. Byron is a teen with all that goes along with that word...including the attitude and the intense sense of invincibility. The family struggles with Byron's lack of thinking until one day when they decide it is time for Byron to go and stay with Mrs. Watson's mom. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama. They journey down by car in one long trip. Once there, a few major things happen to bring this family to its senses, mainly Byron, and Kenny to a deeper sense of self. It is a very well-written book with plenty of humor, even for me. This book was on the fourth grade reading list for my son. I think he will enjoy it as much as I did.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
The Golden Compass
Author: Phillip Pullman
Characters: Lyra, Iorek the Bear, Mrs. Coulter, John Faar and others
This was an interesting book. I enjoyed many things about the story line including the reading of the compass itself, the wondrous armored bears, the Gyptians, and the elusive topic of the Dust. I enjoyed the book in itself. I disliked the fact that Lyra's character was 2-dimensional and that the ending of the book, I would say the last 45 pages, seemed contrived. I felt as though Pullman was reaching for an ending rather than flowing into it. It was almost like he threw the ending on the table and said here you go! While I am still interested enough in finding out more about the Dust, I am leery of reading the second book. I suppose that I am hoping the second book gives Lyra some more dimension and I am more drawn into her character than I was in the first book. This was not a children's book, by any means. I would recommend this book for kids 15 and older depending on their maturity.
Characters: Lyra, Iorek the Bear, Mrs. Coulter, John Faar and others
This was an interesting book. I enjoyed many things about the story line including the reading of the compass itself, the wondrous armored bears, the Gyptians, and the elusive topic of the Dust. I enjoyed the book in itself. I disliked the fact that Lyra's character was 2-dimensional and that the ending of the book, I would say the last 45 pages, seemed contrived. I felt as though Pullman was reaching for an ending rather than flowing into it. It was almost like he threw the ending on the table and said here you go! While I am still interested enough in finding out more about the Dust, I am leery of reading the second book. I suppose that I am hoping the second book gives Lyra some more dimension and I am more drawn into her character than I was in the first book. This was not a children's book, by any means. I would recommend this book for kids 15 and older depending on their maturity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
