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get_wrecked_mate's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Obsessed!!! This is such a great premise, expertly executed
lemon_drop's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
fae269's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
abi_carter's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cj_d1113's review
1.0
Q. Why do they originally think Cane can’t be Ghost?
A. Because Cane was white while Ghost was green
P. 105
Q. Who died in the first chapter?
A. Sonny
P. 4
A. Because Cane was white while Ghost was green
P. 105
Q. Who died in the first chapter?
A. Sonny
P. 4
abellebooks's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this was a great book. Most of the comments from people with lower ratings mention that younger people wouldn’t be interested in this book without adult help. However, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Some of the themes I might’ve missed as a child, but this book gives adults a chance to discuss colorism, the history Eatonville and Zora, and other things with their children. This book allows older people who love Zora to teach another generation about her and the life she lived.
amandavalrose's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Bullying
readandfindout's review
3.75
Style/writing: 4 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
raquelstecher's review against another edition
5.0
An amazing book written by two incredibly talented women. The language in the book is beautiful and I love how we learn about Zora Neale Hurston's adventurous spirit and talent for story telling through a fictional story as told by a character in the book. It's a great way for kids (and let's face it, this adult) to be introduced to Zora Neale Hurston. The first thing I wanted to do after reading this was pick up Their Eyes Were Watching God!
Zora loves to tell stories and all the school children call her a liar. Except for her good friend Carrie who sees Zora's strength in storytelling and believe in what Zora is saying. Zora is convinced that the quiet and somewhat reclusive Mr. Pendir is a gator man, half-gator, half-man, with a hunger to devour beautiful voices. When a dulcet-toned traveler named Ivory is found dead, Zora and Carrie (and sometimes Teddy) are on a mission to find out who done it. Was it Mr. Pendir? Zora seems to think so. But they need to first prove he's a gator-man for sure!
The mystery propels the story along. But it's not all about the mystery. That's just one element of the book. What you also get is an understanding of Zora Neale Hurston as a person, the African-American community of Eatonville, turn-of-the-century prejudice and racism as well as the power of a child's imagination.
I loved reading this book. Channie Waites did such a spectacular job with the narration. If I pick up the physical book and read a sentence or two, Waites' voice pops into my head. She delivers the language of the book so beautifully and authentically. It was really a joy to listen to.
Zora loves to tell stories and all the school children call her a liar. Except for her good friend Carrie who sees Zora's strength in storytelling and believe in what Zora is saying. Zora is convinced that the quiet and somewhat reclusive Mr. Pendir is a gator man, half-gator, half-man, with a hunger to devour beautiful voices. When a dulcet-toned traveler named Ivory is found dead, Zora and Carrie (and sometimes Teddy) are on a mission to find out who done it. Was it Mr. Pendir? Zora seems to think so. But they need to first prove he's a gator-man for sure!
The mystery propels the story along. But it's not all about the mystery. That's just one element of the book. What you also get is an understanding of Zora Neale Hurston as a person, the African-American community of Eatonville, turn-of-the-century prejudice and racism as well as the power of a child's imagination.
I loved reading this book. Channie Waites did such a spectacular job with the narration. If I pick up the physical book and read a sentence or two, Waites' voice pops into my head. She delivers the language of the book so beautifully and authentically. It was really a joy to listen to.
lauraellis's review against another edition
4.0
This is a great book aimed at 4th-6th graders, a historical fiction/mystery about a young Zora Neale Hurston and her friend Carrie Brown, who stumble upon a murder as they go about their daily lives in turn-of-the-last-Century Eatonville, an all black town in the South. The language was beautiful and evocative of Ms Hurston’s language in Their Eyes Were Watching God.
It was very interesting to see the lives of these young African-American girls in the day-to-day, somewhat sheltered by their town but with the effects of the outer white-ruled world impinging. I’m so glad I read this book.
This was my choice for the elementary/middle-school book that has won a diversity prize in the 2019 Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge.
It was very interesting to see the lives of these young African-American girls in the day-to-day, somewhat sheltered by their town but with the effects of the outer white-ruled world impinging. I’m so glad I read this book.
This was my choice for the elementary/middle-school book that has won a diversity prize in the 2019 Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge.