lphel's review against another edition
5.0
Heartwarming story of an unlikely friendship that reminds you there are still good people out there. These characters will stay with me for awhile.
I enjoyed the look into Native American culture as well as the struggles of life on a reservation - I felt this book was more realistic in its portrayal of this way of life than Alexie's Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (though I loved that book as well). As a fan myself, I appreciated the Beatles/Paul McCartney references throughout the book and how Gansworth related them to his themes. There is some questionable language, but nothing severe. Gansworth does a wonderful job of being authentic but keeping the younger YA crowd in mind.
I enjoyed the look into Native American culture as well as the struggles of life on a reservation - I felt this book was more realistic in its portrayal of this way of life than Alexie's Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (though I loved that book as well). As a fan myself, I appreciated the Beatles/Paul McCartney references throughout the book and how Gansworth related them to his themes. There is some questionable language, but nothing severe. Gansworth does a wonderful job of being authentic but keeping the younger YA crowd in mind.
kaelilcook's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed it up until the ending which I felt kind of fell flat compared to the rest of the book.
menfrommarrs's review against another edition
4.0
As the second in the series, this one wasn't as much fun. Not fresh material anymore.
I do like that Lady Trent never fails to assert that her rights as a women are just as valid as a man's, despite the cultural trappings she must endure.
I will continue the series, want to meet new creatures.
I do like that Lady Trent never fails to assert that her rights as a women are just as valid as a man's, despite the cultural trappings she must endure.
I will continue the series, want to meet new creatures.
resslesa's review against another edition
5.0
Awesome book about a kid, Beatles, music in general and Native American reality in the 1970's.
froydis's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Netgalley.com and Arthur A. Levine Books for early access to this title.
3 1/2 stars - This is a great book! I'm so used to teen books which are so over the top with emotion and action that this one felt a bit slow to begin with. It soon sucked me in, however. I fell in love with Louis and really felt for his problems. I also thoroughly enjoyed his friend, George, and loved that they "came together" through the Beatles. The families of both boys are also quite well done, particularly George's father. My only real down side, and the reason for 3 1/2 stars as opposed to 4, was that the bullies and their father were so one-dimentional. They served their plot purpose of being purely evil, but were not particularly realistic because of that. Its still a great read, and one I would Recommend to teens for several reasons: Great writing, great characterizations, great insight into cultural differences (both Native American and military), and the bullying plot line.
3 1/2 stars - This is a great book! I'm so used to teen books which are so over the top with emotion and action that this one felt a bit slow to begin with. It soon sucked me in, however. I fell in love with Louis and really felt for his problems. I also thoroughly enjoyed his friend, George, and loved that they "came together" through the Beatles. The families of both boys are also quite well done, particularly George's father. My only real down side, and the reason for 3 1/2 stars as opposed to 4, was that the bullies and their father were so one-dimentional. They served their plot purpose of being purely evil, but were not particularly realistic because of that. Its still a great read, and one I would Recommend to teens for several reasons: Great writing, great characterizations, great insight into cultural differences (both Native American and military), and the bullying plot line.
marisatn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
4.5
booktrunks's review against another edition
5.0
I bought this book recently, and if I was being fair to all the books waiting on my shelf, I would have waited much longer to read this. BUT, it sounded really interesting, so I skipped the line, and I regret nothing! This is a fantastic and moving book with a great balance of friendship, family and found-family, loneliness, and nostalgia. I found Lewis to be such a realistic and lovable character, his imperfections and struggles really reflected what I see in the lives of my students today, and the contrast of his happy/hopeful moments to his disappointing/beat-down moments was so emotional (and even infuriating at times)! There's a lot that this book has to say about the school system and the abuse of power from teachers/staff that can take place, and I think it's important to hear. I can think of many people I would recommend this book to, but it also falls into a category I call "books I think educators need to read." I will definitely be picking up other books by Gansworth!
claire_bear_the_bear's review against another edition
3.0
Read it as a class read and it was okay. I would never pick this book up myself, but as a class read it was better than most.
laurelinwonder's review against another edition
4.0
When I check this book at at the local library a couple weeks ago, I was intrigued by the description of the book, and thrilled at the thought that it might be reminiscent of Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian". I also assumed that this would be a high school age book that I might like to teach at some point. Well, it is actually a book about an 8th grader, that might be good for freshman, and sure, it is a little like Alexie's book, but in truth, this book is not what I expected. However, in this case, that is a good thing. Few other books (at least that I have read, and I ma no stranger to reading) have managed to capture poverty, and what it means to grow up not only poor, but on a reservation in such a way. Now, I did not grow up on a reservation, but I do know a thing or two about living in a house that I didn't really want to invite friends to. Gansworth doesn't play games in this book, and Lewis questions everything, and sees far more than most his age, in terms of what his culture, his economic status, and how those in the larger world see him. Yet Lewis fights for his rights, fights for what is important, he doesn't just lay down when things outside of his control happen. This is a great little book about culture, poverty, friendship, junior high, bullying, and questioning the present through a not so distant history. And if none of that sounds up your alley, the soundtrack to this little novel makes it even better.