i_will_papercut_a_bish's review against another edition
3.0
I was excited to read this book, being a Katherine Paterson fan.
Unfortunately, the story was disjointed and didn't really seem to have a clear audience in mind. The plot seemed to jump around from new character to new character without pausing to invest much in any of them. The random tidbits where interesting, but I eventually became discouraged by the lack of direction. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, as is the language. I only wish I'd had a better reason to invest emotionally.
Unfortunately, the story was disjointed and didn't really seem to have a clear audience in mind. The plot seemed to jump around from new character to new character without pausing to invest much in any of them. The random tidbits where interesting, but I eventually became discouraged by the lack of direction. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, as is the language. I only wish I'd had a better reason to invest emotionally.
kkop12's review against another edition
4.0
Kate and I read this together. We really liked it. I'm not sure what to write about it. Creative, lots of long words (that Kate wanted defined immediately), beautiful pictures that supplemented our imagination, great characters (especially the hot water bottle Bismark)…I think the thing that says it best was that when we finished we immediately looked to see if there was a list of other books she had written :-)
pwbalto's review against another edition
4.0
My family read this, and they all seemed to like it:
Z: There seemed to be a point of the story but I wouldn't quite call it a moral. I think the point was like "Don't try to take things that you think will make you stronger just so you can be stronger than other people." And as for the first part, about the Stone Age in Dartmoor, don't try to pursue things that aren't yours.
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2011/11/catching-up-on-middle-grade-chapter-books.html
Z: There seemed to be a point of the story but I wouldn't quite call it a moral. I think the point was like "Don't try to take things that you think will make you stronger just so you can be stronger than other people." And as for the first part, about the Stone Age in Dartmoor, don't try to pursue things that aren't yours.
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2011/11/catching-up-on-middle-grade-chapter-books.html
theybedax's review against another edition
4.0
The random bits of artwork were absolutely lovely. The story was slightly repetitive and definitely showcased how slow we truly are at learning from our mistakes. All in all this was mostly just adorable.
kittarlin's review against another edition
I think I just wasn't in the right mood for this one...
tami_provencher's review against another edition
1.0
I want to begin by saying that I think Katherine Patterson is enormously talented author and her book The Great Gilly Hopkins is one of my all-time favorites. It is precisely because of my past experience with Patterson’s work that I was anxious to read The Flint Heart.
Unfortunately, The Flint Heart was a disappointment for me. I probably would not have actually finished the book had I not been confident that Patterson’s extraordinary gifts would eventually break through. For me, at least, this was not the case.
The story is a retelling of an old tale about a heart, or amulet-like stone, made from flint which leeches the goodness from whomever possesses it, replacing it with cold ruthlessness. The first couple of chapters relate the creation of the flint heart for a warrior who is determined to take over as chieftain of his tribe. By the end of the second chapter the stage seems to be set for the good vs. evil saga of the flint heart.
What actually occurs, however, is just a chain of events that exist without any well-developed characters to motivate the reader to care about them. Centuries after its creation a once kind, loving father finds the “heart” and is transformed into a cruel man bearing no resemblance to the father beloved by his children. His son, Charles, determined to help return his father to his original state, seeks help from the magical underground world of Pixies.
It is at this point that the story begins its surprising descent into the banal. Too much time is spent describing the trappings of fairy banquets and not enough on Charles and his younger sister. The story gets too bogged down in the external language trappings of folkloric tradition without ever connecting with the reader on a personal level. We are never motivated to identify with or care about Charles to any substantial degree. The characters are lost in fairy banquet descriptions and so is the reader’s stake in the resolution of the story.
Although I highly recommend most of Ms. Patterson’s other work, I did not enjoy The Flint Heart and would not recommend it as either a read-aloud or an independent reading selection.
Unfortunately, The Flint Heart was a disappointment for me. I probably would not have actually finished the book had I not been confident that Patterson’s extraordinary gifts would eventually break through. For me, at least, this was not the case.
The story is a retelling of an old tale about a heart, or amulet-like stone, made from flint which leeches the goodness from whomever possesses it, replacing it with cold ruthlessness. The first couple of chapters relate the creation of the flint heart for a warrior who is determined to take over as chieftain of his tribe. By the end of the second chapter the stage seems to be set for the good vs. evil saga of the flint heart.
What actually occurs, however, is just a chain of events that exist without any well-developed characters to motivate the reader to care about them. Centuries after its creation a once kind, loving father finds the “heart” and is transformed into a cruel man bearing no resemblance to the father beloved by his children. His son, Charles, determined to help return his father to his original state, seeks help from the magical underground world of Pixies.
It is at this point that the story begins its surprising descent into the banal. Too much time is spent describing the trappings of fairy banquets and not enough on Charles and his younger sister. The story gets too bogged down in the external language trappings of folkloric tradition without ever connecting with the reader on a personal level. We are never motivated to identify with or care about Charles to any substantial degree. The characters are lost in fairy banquet descriptions and so is the reader’s stake in the resolution of the story.
Although I highly recommend most of Ms. Patterson’s other work, I did not enjoy The Flint Heart and would not recommend it as either a read-aloud or an independent reading selection.
ccaterer's review against another edition
3.0
For those who think a Katherine Paterson book will be like the breathtaking [b:Bridge to Terabithia|2839|Bridge to Terabithia|Katherine Paterson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327880087s/2839.jpg|2237401], this book will disappoint. That's not to say it isn't a great book, but The Flint Heart is just a straight-ahead, middle-grade fantasy, and a very fun one at that. John Rocco's brilliant illustrations come frequently and are pleasingly large and colorful (no black and whites here!). The story is based firmly in the land of faeries and talking animals, and surely yours truly is no one to scoff at that. The Flint Heart itself is an ancient stone heart that corrupts whoever wears it, and it's hero Charles's job to take it wherever it can do no harm. Fun characters like the Fairy King and the Jacky Toads make this a real joy to read.
jillcd's review against another edition
4.0
Deliciously adorable with fun, feisty, and delightful characters. Watch out for the flint heart, you never know where it will turn up next!
aprilbooksandwine's review against another edition
3.0
The Flint Heart by Katherine Paterson and John Paterson illustrated by John Rocco opens up on ancient times. Long ago, in the Stone Age, a young soldier named Phuttphutt once wanted what is not his, the chiefdom of his clan. He was kindhearted, too soft to seize the reigns of power. So he went to the local wise man who forged him a heart of flint which caused Phuttphutt to be brutal and cruel, but also to win the chiefdom. Phuttphutt reigned with an iron fist until he died and The Flint Heart was buried with him. Unfortunately it doesn’t stay buried forever. Mr. Jago finds it and comes home another man. It is up to his children, mainly Unity and Charles with the help of the fairies and an intrepid hot water bottle to destroy The Flint Heart.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
jeremychiasson's review against another edition
2.0
What a wasted opportunity! This had all the makings of a great children's book: Katherine Paterson was adapting a classic fantasy story, and it was to be illustrated by Joe Rocco. What could go wrong?
Well first of all, this book doesn't seem to have an audience in mind. I get it, Paterson. It's cute to make adult references in a kid's book. But how the hell do you explain De Quincey's comments about the music of English prose to children? It's one thing to wink at the parents, it's quite another to push the child aside and speak exclusively to the parent. You're not Pixar, you're pretentious.
Secondly, the story feels as though there is no payoff after the umpteenth time the person who holds the Flint Heart is foiled by the Charles and company:
So this guy gets this magical stone, and normally he's nice, but the stone makes him evil. Then he loses the stone, and becomes nice again.
Now read variations on that idea 3 times, and you'll get the Flint Heart. Once the badger got the stone, I wanted to shout at the book: JUST DESTROY THE DAMN STONE! Stop leaving it lying around! All of your problems would be solved, you dumbass kids!
Aside from the futile plot, the Paterson family spends so much time describing Fairy banquets, its magical food, and all the creatures, but they really couldn't be bothered to develop their main characters. I did not give two shits about Charles and Unity. De Quincey is the most richly drawn character, and he's kind of an asshat. Even the hot water bottle in this story had more personality than the supposed protagonists.
Granted, the illustrations are beautiful, the prose is tight and comical, and there are parts of the story that would be great for reading out loud to kids. But this book got too bogged down in the authors' own self-indulgence, quickly rendering the story's whimsical charm banal. It lacks any sort of focus.
This book seemed less like the work of an established children's author, and more like the draft copy of a talented novice. Maybe her husband/coauthor deserves some of the blame. Who knows?
I would still recommend this to older kids, who are very smart and love fantasy books. As long as they don't mind having their parents read to them. I feel like the brief glimmers of brilliance, make it worth a read, even if it will never be a classic like "Bridge to Terabithia".
Well first of all, this book doesn't seem to have an audience in mind. I get it, Paterson. It's cute to make adult references in a kid's book. But how the hell do you explain De Quincey's comments about the music of English prose to children? It's one thing to wink at the parents, it's quite another to push the child aside and speak exclusively to the parent. You're not Pixar, you're pretentious.
Secondly, the story feels as though there is no payoff after the umpteenth time the person who holds the Flint Heart is foiled by the Charles and company:
So this guy gets this magical stone, and normally he's nice, but the stone makes him evil. Then he loses the stone, and becomes nice again.
Now read variations on that idea 3 times, and you'll get the Flint Heart. Once the badger got the stone, I wanted to shout at the book: JUST DESTROY THE DAMN STONE! Stop leaving it lying around! All of your problems would be solved, you dumbass kids!
Aside from the futile plot, the Paterson family spends so much time describing Fairy banquets, its magical food, and all the creatures, but they really couldn't be bothered to develop their main characters. I did not give two shits about Charles and Unity. De Quincey is the most richly drawn character, and he's kind of an asshat. Even the hot water bottle in this story had more personality than the supposed protagonists.
Granted, the illustrations are beautiful, the prose is tight and comical, and there are parts of the story that would be great for reading out loud to kids. But this book got too bogged down in the authors' own self-indulgence, quickly rendering the story's whimsical charm banal. It lacks any sort of focus.
This book seemed less like the work of an established children's author, and more like the draft copy of a talented novice. Maybe her husband/coauthor deserves some of the blame. Who knows?
I would still recommend this to older kids, who are very smart and love fantasy books. As long as they don't mind having their parents read to them. I feel like the brief glimmers of brilliance, make it worth a read, even if it will never be a classic like "Bridge to Terabithia".