froggylibrarian1's review against another edition
4.0
Ivy's mother was devastated when wildfires destroyed much of the suurounding area including her father's church. She was so devastated in fact that she ran away - with Hallalujah Dave to his Great Good Bible Church of Panhandle Florida. Now Ivy doesn't know what to do - and neither does her dad. Ivy flounders around babysitting and making friends with a science nerd Paul. Her dad goes to work but doesn't do much of anything else.
Eventually Ivy and Paul decide to go find Ivy's mom and also visit Cape Canaveral to see the space shuttles before they are retired (because the Panhandle and Canaveral are close right??).
Full of adventure, friendship, and forgiveness this story was a quiet charmer. I loved the line near the end... "Maybe sometimes the wrong things have to happen so the right things can".
Eventually Ivy and Paul decide to go find Ivy's mom and also visit Cape Canaveral to see the space shuttles before they are retired (because the Panhandle and Canaveral are close right??).
Full of adventure, friendship, and forgiveness this story was a quiet charmer. I loved the line near the end... "Maybe sometimes the wrong things have to happen so the right things can".
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first read of the summer and it was simply gorgeous. Readers will cheer for Ivy and Paul and their adventure. Adored these characters.
abigailbat's review against another edition
3.0
Very strong voice - Ivy reminds me a little bit of Mo LoBeau - and a masterful handling of a girl questioning her faith after her mother leaves to follow a preacher to Florida. I wasn't altogether satisfied with the ending (which might be a statement about faith?), and I had trouble with the ages of the main characters - sometimes they seemed younger than 12, sometimes older. (Possibly this means that they are very well-written tween characters???!)
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
Ivy was a compelling story, but overall the whole book was sweet and quiet in a way that made it unmemorable. The SLJ review said it was reminiscent of One Crazy Summer and Because of Winn-Dixie, but it wasn't as strong and distinct as either of those. Disappointing, especially because I've loved some of Scanlon's picture books. Still, I did appreciate the way religion was portrayed as a part of everyday life.
asealey925's review against another edition
4.0
Some intense themes, but Scanlon handled them beautifully.
couillac's review against another edition
3.0
A sweet story about faith and family and friendship. It feels like a lot of middle grade fiction with its folksy tone and spunky young protagonist, but what sets this book apart is its emphasis on faith and spirituality. This is a religious family trying to work through difficult times, and the way in which faith both helps and hinders different characters, including the fully-realized adults, is refreshingly different and thought-provoking. Even readers who don't come from a religious background will find this to be an accessible exploration of the things that get us through tough times and both the strengths and limitations of religion. It's surprisingly upbeat and charming, and offers plenty of depth for intelligent young fans of realistic stories.
federo999's review against another edition
I liked that this gave different views on Christians way of thinking, and how children think about spirituality and religion in the face of hardship.
hezann73's review against another edition
4.0
I'm counting this as an "inspirational" fiction book, not because of a preachy message, but because of it's honest depiction of faith and of skepticism. Ivy knows what she believes, and even though she's thinks Paul's belief in science over God is wrong, it doesn't keep them from becoming friends and listening to each other. Ivy questions why God lets bad things happen, she questions her relationship with her mom, and she questions what being a true friend means. Readers will root for Ivy and Paul.
Recommended for 5th & 6th graders - especially those that fans of Kate DiCamillo and Deborah Wiles
Recommended for 5th & 6th graders - especially those that fans of Kate DiCamillo and Deborah Wiles
adt's review against another edition
4.0
"Maybe sometimes the wrong things have to happen so the right things can."
I hereby resolve to add more so-called middle-grade and young adult books to my reading list on a regular basis. Such a refreshing antidote to often pretentious and seldom reader-friendly literary books. Any book, like this one, that brings a tears of joy and hope deserves more than being pigeon-holed into a reader category that is not consider worthy of adults (pure hogwash!).
I hereby resolve to add more so-called middle-grade and young adult books to my reading list on a regular basis. Such a refreshing antidote to often pretentious and seldom reader-friendly literary books. Any book, like this one, that brings a tears of joy and hope deserves more than being pigeon-holed into a reader category that is not consider worthy of adults (pure hogwash!).