jcarsrud's review against another edition
4.0
This is a sweet historical fiction about three kids who love Joe Louis. Would be good for anyone who wants historical fiction and maybe is interested in boxing.
bak8382's review against another edition
4.0
Hibernia is the daughter of a preacher who has big dreams of being a singer. Willie has what it takes to be a boxer, but issues with his father are preventing it. Otis just lost both his parents and is struggling to deal with that loss. While they may not seem like they have much in common it is the boxer Joe Louis and the Mercy Home for Negro Orphans that draws them together in upstate New York.
Set in the Great Depression and meticulously researched by Davis Pinkney this quiet story comes to life with the use of three narrators to portray the children. It's a lovely and lively audio production that also includes an afterword read by the author.
Set in the Great Depression and meticulously researched by Davis Pinkney this quiet story comes to life with the use of three narrators to portray the children. It's a lovely and lively audio production that also includes an afterword read by the author.
wiseowl33's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful story. Loved the voices of Otis, Willie and Hibernia. Warm, hopeful story about life during the depression, regardless of the terrible things that happen to the characters.
bluebird_5's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
We enjoyed the audio version of this book. In order for my kids to better understand the historical references we looked up pictures, talked about racism/radio shows/family structures for the time period, and listened to music that was mentioned in the book. Be sure to read the author's note at the end which adds to the enjoyment of the book. I listened to this with an 8 and 13 year old.
kjw2's review against another edition
4.0
So glad I found this book. Finally a good read aloud for the Historical Fiction genre and something the boys will love.
pwbalto's review against another edition
5.0
The book is about three twelve-year-old black kids, two of them living in an orphanage. Each of these kids (and in fact, most of the adults in the book) has experienced grievous sorrow: abandonment, abuse, or death. But it is not a sad book - Otis, Willie and Hibernia are shaped by their experiences but not flattened by them. They're kids, after all, and susceptible to comfort. Otis finds a cat; Hibernia sings; Willie bonds with a lady at the orphanage. Otis and Willie play pranks on the mean orphanage director.
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2011/02/bird-box-andrea-davis-pinkney-review.html
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2011/02/bird-box-andrea-davis-pinkney-review.html
cottonquilts's review against another edition
2.0
I really do think MG books can and should develop characters.
teacher2library's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the characterization, strong voices and lyrical language of this novel. Pinkney does a great job of capturing the excitement and possibility of a specific moment in time. 3 stars because so much of the storyline was left unresolved.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
A story from the Great Depression in three voices - Hibernia, Otis and Willie. I loved the tone - although I didn't notice it at the time, it's told in present tense. More noticeable are the distinct voices and personalities of each character, with their own heartbreaks and hopes. I loved Otis' riddles in particular. It takes a little while before the three stories connect around more than just following Joe Louis' boxing matches, but I enjoyed the ride. I did wonder why the story started in 1937 and then moved back to 1936 - it never felt like a necessary shift in time and only distracted me - but it's a minor quibble in an otherwise solid story.
Source: ARC from publisher
Source: ARC from publisher
quietjenn's review against another edition
3.0
Generously rounding up from 2 1/2, because there are some very nice moments portrayed here and I find Joe Louis interesting. But, overall, eh. It's just too much - which I can't really explain but maybe you know what I mean? And, for a book written in three voices, those voices are not nearly distinct enough from one another, nor the characters speaking them as multi-dimensional as I would've liked.