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danoreading's review
3.0
A little underwhelming, honestly, given all the hype - a National Book Award, really? - but I did like it. The family relationships and characters were strong, but it did feel a bit too message-y at times and I certainly thought the info-dumps about wheat harvesting, mosquitoes, and A Separate Peace hindered the overall pacing of the novel. I'll be disappointed if this wins a Newbery - good overall, but problematic.
marcosbedbooks's review
3.0
Sadly, this book just fell flat. I understood that the author was attempting to create a deeper meaning in this book, but it didn't work very well due to how utterly boring this book was. Both Summer and her brother weren't very well rounded, but their grandparents did keep me a interested the whole way through. It's biggest flaw is that nothing really happens in the story, and that wouldn't be such a huge problem if the character were developed more.
linneamo's review
2.0
genre: realistic
summary: a japanese-american girl spends the summer harvesting in mid-american with her grandparents and her brother (who is somewhere on the autism spectrum)
notes:
for kids who like: realistic fiction
age group: age 9+
my review: overrated! i agree it's humorous and there is great characterization the book can get rather tedious and i think it will leave a lot of readers bored. i could see this as a book for strong, girl readers...who like sarah, plain and tall / higher power of lucky etc.
summary: a japanese-american girl spends the summer harvesting in mid-american with her grandparents and her brother (who is somewhere on the autism spectrum)
notes:
for kids who like: realistic fiction
age group: age 9+
my review: overrated! i agree it's humorous and there is great characterization the book can get rather tedious and i think it will leave a lot of readers bored. i could see this as a book for strong, girl readers...who like sarah, plain and tall / higher power of lucky etc.
sarahspils's review
4.0
The author of The Thing About Luck is Cynthia Kadohata. This realistic fiction book takes place in Kansas and Oklahoma in present day. The main character is 12 year old Summer, a girl that has to go on harvest for part of her school year, every year. When she goes on harvest she usually goes with her parents and brother, Jaz, but this year because her great grandparents are sick, her grandparents come instead. During her harvest, it becomes more and more difficult with her grandparents around, being the old-fashioned and controlling people they are. Another thing that just becomes a disaster is when she likes a boy that she sees every harvest. I rated The Thing About Luck with four out of five stars because, being a 12 year old myself, I found it kind of hard to relate to. Along with that, there were parts that seemed kind of unnecessary and bored me a bit. There are things in this book that I liked, but you seem to have to wait awhile until the interesting parts come. Overall, it was an okay book, but I'm sure I could appreciate it more when I'm older.
roseleaf24's review
4.0
This was a very quiet book, and somewhat bleak, but it captured age 12 perfectly. A constant unease and uncertainty about what to do, how to act, and why other people act the way they do. The family love comes through strongly, and even the frequent explanations of combine harvesting don't get overwhelming or halt the pace of the book.
makaylabrown's review
3.0
as far as a children targeted book goes, it’s good. it’s difficult to read at first, mostly because i felt sorry for how much shit these kids were dealing with from family comments and the cultural differences from myself and them. it eventually gets better but i wouldn’t be ranting and raving about this to anyone. probably just my own mistake for not realizing how young the target audience is when i bought it at a library sale! it was a “feel like i need to buy something” situation, you live and learn i guess.
animemiz24's review
I enjoyed reading this book, the story basically is a coming of age with first loves and a sense of sensible responsibilities. There is family themes as well as a reflection of rural American with the work of migrant workers.
jessethereader's review
This was a nice little slice of life story. At times it was frustrating to read, but only because the characters are put through several tough situations and it's rough watching them go through it. It's a book that has a quiet plot, but has a loud impact. One that will take time to process.
lannthacker's review
3.0
[FINALIST] A coming of age story with a unique setting, wheat fields during harvest. This is a quiet story, a snapshot of life as a contracted combine driver with philosophical musings on life, love and being different mixed in. It had a similar tone to Lynne Rae Perkins' Criss Cross.