The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
aliyaaa's review against another edition
2.0
Kind of problematic??? It also just feels like the author ran out of ideas halfway through the first draft and decided to pull something out of the bag
tinyautomaton's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn't sure I was going to like this book so much, but it totally captured me, resulting in me staying up later than I should've because I had to read more.
One thing I really like about this book is that the author lets the little moments be. There are many times in the book where a character will do or say something that strikes you hard and leaves an imprint, but they aren't persued to death, which I found really nice.
The characters in this book are very well done. I actually got REALLY annoyed at Kirsten's mom whenever she did anything - I really couldn't stand her. And Brianna was just...oh my GOD, I couldn't stand her either. And I was so disappointed thay Rory didn't do anything, and I have to say, I don't think much of her either. This is a sign of a good writer, that her characters seem so real.
I think the tree in this book represents their family and how it was hurt and then managed to find a way to get better.
The title is very powerfull for me. I took it to mean two main things, but of course there are other interpretations.
What the title means to me:
a) The first is representing Kirsten and Walk's family, and how it seemed to fall and crash and what they do about it. Lunch period would kinda represent any normal time of day. Or it could specifically be their lunch period because many of the interactions that led up to the fall were during lunch period.
b) The second is more general. This book deals with screwed up "friendships" and racism and not feeling smart enough and family problems and people looking dumb on the outside when they're not on the inside and you name it, really. In some of the instances during lunch, and everywhere else as well, it seemed like nobody noticed the injustice and (here would be a nice place for a word that meant outrageous wrong stuff that sounded far more eloquent). It seemed to me that those moments were saying, "If a tree falls during lunch period...nobody's gonna notice." That's rather depressing, but that's how I took it. That the title was saying that moments like the ones in this book happen everywhere everyday, and they should be as obvious as a tree falling down right in the middle of things, but nobody seems to notice or care. Kinda like the elephant in the room or something.
So, this may be a book geared towards kids, but it's very powerfull and could speak to everyone.
Good day to you.
One thing I really like about this book is that the author lets the little moments be. There are many times in the book where a character will do or say something that strikes you hard and leaves an imprint, but they aren't persued to death, which I found really nice.
The characters in this book are very well done. I actually got REALLY annoyed at Kirsten's mom whenever she did anything - I really couldn't stand her. And Brianna was just...oh my GOD, I couldn't stand her either. And I was so disappointed thay Rory didn't do anything, and I have to say, I don't think much of her either. This is a sign of a good writer, that her characters seem so real.
I think the tree in this book represents their family and how it was hurt and then managed to find a way to get better.
The title is very powerfull for me. I took it to mean two main things, but of course there are other interpretations.
What the title means to me:
a) The first is representing Kirsten and Walk's family, and how it seemed to fall and crash and what they do about it. Lunch period would kinda represent any normal time of day. Or it could specifically be their lunch period because many of the interactions that led up to the fall were during lunch period.
b) The second is more general. This book deals with screwed up "friendships" and racism and not feeling smart enough and family problems and people looking dumb on the outside when they're not on the inside and you name it, really. In some of the instances during lunch, and everywhere else as well, it seemed like nobody noticed the injustice and (here would be a nice place for a word that meant outrageous wrong stuff that sounded far more eloquent). It seemed to me that those moments were saying, "If a tree falls during lunch period...nobody's gonna notice." That's rather depressing, but that's how I took it. That the title was saying that moments like the ones in this book happen everywhere everyday, and they should be as obvious as a tree falling down right in the middle of things, but nobody seems to notice or care. Kinda like the elephant in the room or something.
So, this may be a book geared towards kids, but it's very powerfull and could speak to everyone.
Good day to you.
mildlyjulie's review against another edition
3.0
Accidentally read this in one evening--I was disappointed when it ended; it felt like the story was just picking up. I forget that middle grade books tend to be a lot shorter than YA!
Anyway, I liked this book, though it was awfully depressing at times. The characters were all so realistic. I loved Walk in particular, though I wish we'd gotten to read him as first person too. Every single time with the new chapter about him I was confused at first.
Anyway, I liked this book, though it was awfully depressing at times. The characters were all so realistic. I loved Walk in particular, though I wish we'd gotten to read him as first person too. Every single time with the new chapter about him I was confused at first.
canadianbookworm's review
4.0
A good book for tweens, this novel features Kirsten McKenna, who is entering grade seven. She has hardly seen her best friend Rory over the summer, and now Rory seems to be hanging out with a different group of girls. Kirsten's parents are constantly fighting and her mother keeps talking about Kirsten's recent weight gain and food issues. Luckily Kirsten's little sister Kippy is an ally in the household and the girls comfort each other.
Also starting at the same school is Walker Jones, one of the few black kids at the school. Walker is there on scholarship and he is under pressure from his single mother to do well. Walker hangs out with Matteo, another scholarship student, who seems to be willing to do anything the class queen asks him to, no matter how wrong.
As the kids find their place in the school and deal with their parents' issues, they learn about themselves as well.
This is a good story, with interesting characters. The story alternates between Kirsten and Walk telling their versions of what is going on, and other characters are given depth as well.
Also starting at the same school is Walker Jones, one of the few black kids at the school. Walker is there on scholarship and he is under pressure from his single mother to do well. Walker hangs out with Matteo, another scholarship student, who seems to be willing to do anything the class queen asks him to, no matter how wrong.
As the kids find their place in the school and deal with their parents' issues, they learn about themselves as well.
This is a good story, with interesting characters. The story alternates between Kirsten and Walk telling their versions of what is going on, and other characters are given depth as well.
laura_sorensen's review
2.0
Did not like it very much ... no likeable characters, a weird storyline, not as compelling as some of her other books.
j_apple's review
1.0
Ok, firstly, I hated this book. I read it several years ago and was scrolling through Goodreads when I saw it. My first thought was 'Oh, there's that book I can't stand'. I didn't like any of the characters except maybe Walk, Kirsten was irritating, and the big plot twist was completely ridiculous. I won't give away what is is except to hint that it is highly unlikely and extremely illogical. It wouldn't ever happen. So, yeah. Not one of my favorites, obviously.
clairepear's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
garleighc's review
4.0
Didn't disappoint. =) Somehow the book tackled the stupidity of middle-school without making the kids or their situation seem stupid at all. Just looking back at that time in my life, there was so much going on... and the book accurately summed up all those issues that try to take you down when you're thirteen.
noemi's review
4.0
I really liked this book. I thought Kirsten* was an incredibly realistic narrator.
I was a little thrown off by the narration style at first, because the audiobook has two readers, one for Kirsten and one for Walk, but Walk's story is told in 3rd person, so the first time Baptiste started reading, I kept waiting to find out who the "I" was, and it didn't come.
I loved a lot of the little realistic touches, like the poster in the school about celebrating diversity yet mostly only giving partial scholarships, so that the price was completely unattainable to all but the most privileged families . Mr. Valderez* rocked my socks - he seemed like the teacher I aspire to be.
*Apologies if I mis-spell any names. I listened to an audiobook.
I was a little thrown off by the narration style at first, because the audiobook has two readers, one for Kirsten and one for Walk, but Walk's story is told in 3rd person, so the first time Baptiste started reading, I kept waiting to find out who the "I" was, and it didn't come.
I loved a lot of the little realistic touches, like the poster in the school about celebrating diversity yet
*Apologies if I mis-spell any names. I listened to an audiobook.
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