jfbfsf's review against another edition
4.0
Read for the Mother Daughter Book Club.
My overall sense of this book was of sadness. I was so sad for this little girl, who has so little, who lost her mom, was left behind by her dad, rejected by an aunt - who had to leave a favorite teacher, and didn't have any friends after all this moving around.
She's plucky, and meets ghosts and finds happiness in a new friend and a (small) family - but I couldn't quite get past the sadness for everything she had lost.
I also had some questions that I thought would be addressed over time in the story, but never were. Why did her mother name her California Poppy? Why did the ghosts appear to her, and no one else? Why did they appear when they did, and why did they leave when they did? Why did one ghost start as an older woman, and get younger as the story progressed?
The story told through letters was a nice angle, and I liked her letter writing to big corporations (and how at least one of those letters turned out.)
Overall a good read, albeit a bit sad and occasionally slow.
My overall sense of this book was of sadness. I was so sad for this little girl, who has so little, who lost her mom, was left behind by her dad, rejected by an aunt - who had to leave a favorite teacher, and didn't have any friends after all this moving around.
She's plucky, and meets ghosts and finds happiness in a new friend and a (small) family - but I couldn't quite get past the sadness for everything she had lost.
I also had some questions that I thought would be addressed over time in the story, but never were. Why did her mother name her California Poppy? Why did the ghosts appear to her, and no one else? Why did they appear when they did, and why did they leave when they did? Why did one ghost start as an older woman, and get younger as the story progressed?
The story told through letters was a nice angle, and I liked her letter writing to big corporations (and how at least one of those letters turned out.)
Overall a good read, albeit a bit sad and occasionally slow.
gwentolios's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mckenzierichardson's review
3.0
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
This one took me a bit to get into. It deals with so many heavy topics: puberty, looking older than one's age, sexual harassment, parental neglect, addiction, death of a parent, and being shuttled from one "home" to the next. But once I dove into the narration and story, I was swept up in the main character's desire to find her "purpose" and where she belongs.
The story is told from eleven-year-old California Poppy's perspective and Urban nicely captured her innocence regarding the events going on in her life. The adults around her don't always recognize her as a child and aren't always honest about what's happening. California does the best she can to navigate situations no eleven-year-old (or anyone for that matter) should have to deal with. She often feels powerless as events happen to her, which I think many readers can relate to.
Told in short chapters and letters, California's journey to a new house brings with it some interesting elements, from the promise of a new friend to the ghosts the pop up here and there. Through these elements, she starts to come into herself and find her place.
Overall, a sweet tale that offers new beginnings, new connections, and the push to do the right thing even if it is unpleasant.
This one took me a bit to get into. It deals with so many heavy topics: puberty, looking older than one's age, sexual harassment, parental neglect, addiction, death of a parent, and being shuttled from one "home" to the next. But once I dove into the narration and story, I was swept up in the main character's desire to find her "purpose" and where she belongs.
The story is told from eleven-year-old California Poppy's perspective and Urban nicely captured her innocence regarding the events going on in her life. The adults around her don't always recognize her as a child and aren't always honest about what's happening. California does the best she can to navigate situations no eleven-year-old (or anyone for that matter) should have to deal with. She often feels powerless as events happen to her, which I think many readers can relate to.
Told in short chapters and letters, California's journey to a new house brings with it some interesting elements, from the promise of a new friend to the ghosts the pop up here and there. Through these elements, she starts to come into herself and find her place.
Overall, a sweet tale that offers new beginnings, new connections, and the push to do the right thing even if it is unpleasant.
jengennari's review
5.0
California Poppy (What a name!) grabbed me from the first page in this exquisite, completely from the 11-year-old’s perspective story. Her dad has gone fishing to “Alaska,” and she is in the care of first one aunt, and then another. But what preoccupies California is the ghost Aunt Eleanor and ghost dog she meets. Urban so deftly and slowly reveals what’s really going on and ties up all the threads perfectly. I loved too the bits about thank you letters and changing bodies and sex ed.
nadel's review
5.0
Give yourself and your middle-grader a gift and spend some time with Linda Urban's hilarious California Poppy. Eleven-year-old Callie is achingly honest, full of curiosity, and gives everyone the benefit of the doubt even when they don't deserve it. What I especially loved about Callie is how her faith in others helps those around her to heal and in doing so, she creates the needed family and community she so desperately needs and deserves. As with all her stories, Linda manages to make us see ourselves in a little better light then when we started.
oliviasbookishworld's review
4.0
This was a sweet book and I really liked it. California stole my heart. Maybe it's because I have an 11 year old right now, or maybe it's just because California is who she is. She is doing the best she can despite the helpful (and not so helpful) adults in her life. She gets help along the way from an aunt who needed her as much as she was needed, some ghosts who don't know they are ghosts and a new friendship. I think my girls (11 and 13) would like to read this.
epicneko's review
3.0
This book just felt a little flat to me. California’s relationship with Aunt Monica felt a little rushed to me and I didn’t love the ghosts.. could still be a great book for kids who have suffered trauma or have anger management issues. However, I felt like the plot didn’t quite keep up. I do like California’s humor though!
ssione55's review
5.0
This is everything I love in a kids' book. It's heartfelt and funny and gentle. It touches on hard and important things in a way that feels genuine, but without intensity. Plus, who doesn't love a ghost dog? Very highly recommend, especially for fans of Kate DiCamillo, Wendy Mass, and Patricia MacLachlan.
ricke's review
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
A sweet premise for a book about a young girl going through some life shit, but I feel like this book only glosses over briefly on too many different issues. California is going though puberty, has an alcoholic father, being put from home to home with people she doesn't know and can see ghosts. I wish the author explored these themes a bit more, instead of having repeat sentences that only state these facts and that California is confused and lonely. I think this book has a very fitting title. It was almost good and almost bad.
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