blakehalsey's review against another edition
4.0
Deborah Wiles has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She writes about a small southern town in Mississippi and the southern quirks and idiosyncrasies that I understand all too well. I love the way everyone fits together in the little community and through differences, always come together in the end.
sophiebhk's review against another edition
I have not read this yet but I think I will Ike it because it is the sequel to "each little bird that sings" which I loved!
archvine18's review against another edition
4.0
Love the quotations. Thought the book's brings childish ennui to me.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
A warning: don't mope around and say "this one just isn't tugging at my heart-strings like Each Little Bird That Sings or Love, Ruby Lavender," because it can only end one way. In tears. Just have faith in Deborah Wiles; no matter what else she may do with the book, she WILL tug at your heart-strings (as the cover blurb on Kitri's just-picked-up-from-the-library copy of Ruby Lavender claims). This one has a slow start, and I didn't feel like I really knew House until quite a ways into the book, and his sister Honey was amusing but didn't really seem necessary to the story, and I still want to know why Cleebo went back on his word - these are all reasons why it didn't get that 4th star from me. But there are enough good things going on to balance it out and, yes, make me tear up. I loved the use of Walt Whitman and baseball quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and as usual in Wiles' books, the intergenerational friendships and quirky setting (maybe it doesn't seem so quirky if you live in the south, but it's quirky to me). Lots of baseball talk, boy and girl characters, humor, poetry - there's a lot to recommend this one. House is 12 but I think the book reads a lot younger.
cmcahill's review against another edition
4.0
A 2011 Bluestem Award Nominee that is immediately engaging even if you are not a fan of baseball. A couple in our new subdivision spearheaded a successful campaign to build a baseball diamond in our park this year, so this book had a significant appeal for me. I also liked the fact that a girl plays an important role in the story.
eupomene's review
5.0
Heartwarming and absolutely wonderful. The kids' characters are beautifully drawn, as is the whole of Aurora County. Baseball isn't usually my thing to read about but this is about baseball and a whole lot more.
butcept's review against another edition
3.0
Deborah Wiles authored one of my favorite novels from last year, each little bird that sings. The Snowbergers are in this one, as well as Ruby Lavender, who is featured in another of Deborah Wiles' book, Love, Ruby Lavender.
But this one featured House Jackson, a 12 year old boy that I was introduced to by the fact that he found an old neighbor dead in his bed.
House had been reading to the bedridden man for months, after breaking his arm at the worst moment any 12 year old boy could fathom: before the biggest baseball game of the year, with him as the star pitcher.
And the story goes from there...another tender, sweet novel about a small southern town where everyone knows everyone. And the Independence Day celebration is HUGE: the annual (and only) baseball game against the Raleigh Redbugs is going to take place but Frances Shotz, aka Finesse, has other plans. Those plans include song and dance routines in a pageant, with all the members of the Aurora County All-Stars.
Although this one seemed more geared to boys than girls (like me), this still was just an amazing story with the same sweet elements that made me fall in love with each little bird that sings. I look forward to reading Love, Ruby Lavender to capture that essence again.
But this one featured House Jackson, a 12 year old boy that I was introduced to by the fact that he found an old neighbor dead in his bed.
House had been reading to the bedridden man for months, after breaking his arm at the worst moment any 12 year old boy could fathom: before the biggest baseball game of the year, with him as the star pitcher.
And the story goes from there...another tender, sweet novel about a small southern town where everyone knows everyone. And the Independence Day celebration is HUGE: the annual (and only) baseball game against the Raleigh Redbugs is going to take place but Frances Shotz, aka Finesse, has other plans. Those plans include song and dance routines in a pageant, with all the members of the Aurora County All-Stars.
Although this one seemed more geared to boys than girls (like me), this still was just an amazing story with the same sweet elements that made me fall in love with each little bird that sings. I look forward to reading Love, Ruby Lavender to capture that essence again.
cweichel's review against another edition
5.0
I am in awe of Deborah Wiles wordsmithing. Holy crow she can write! I've adored everything I've read so far, but I think that The Aurora County All-Stars just might be my favourite - at least for now. It's been awhile since I read Each Little Bird that Sings and Love, Ruby Lavender so I'll have to reread them to be sure. What I suspect is that whichever one I've just finished will be my favourite.
The tale begins with the death of an elderly recluse, Mr Norwood Rhinehart Beauregard Boyd. It's the second time twelve year old, House Jackson, witnessed someone's death. The first person being his mother. Mr Boyd left a note leaving House, Leaves of Grass, a collection of Walt Whitman poetry. When House returned late that same night to pick it up, he met up with Pip Schotz, one of Boyd's friends and began to understand that there is much more to the people in his small town, than he could have imagined.
This story is set in a small town in America. It's the story of a baseball team that wants desperately to win the one and only real game they get to play each year. It's the story of a town wanting to celebrate the best of themselves in a pageant on the county's 200th anniversary. The catch is that the pageant and the annual baseball game are scheduled for July 4th at 4:00 pm. It looks like a recipe for disaster.
House Jackson wasn't able to pitch in last year's game because the director of this pageant, Frances Schotz, (now calling herself Finesse) caused an accident wherein he fell and broke his elbow. It was a bad break requiring setting twice. Instead of playing ball all year, House has been reading to Mr Norwood Boyd, who everyone calls Mean-Man Boyd. It's a secret that nobody but House, his father, and Mr Norwood Rhinehart Beauregard Boyd, the elderly recluse, know. House would rather keep it that way.
House is determined to face his problems this year. If he can figure out a way to keep Frances, and his best friend, Cleebo, under control, then maybe, just maybe, he might contrive to find a way out of this conflict and bring everyone and everything together.
What I liked:
I loved that each chapter is prefaced with a quote from either Walt Whitman or a baseball player. These little nuggets of wisdom set the stage for the events to come. I'm now determined to get and read Leaves of Grass.
I love love love these characters! I'm halfway in love with House Jackson. I adore his father and his little sister Honey. I'm even infatuated with Eudora, the dog. Even those characters who cause House grief, like his best friend, Cleebo, and Frances, the director, are full and rich individuals. They all make mistakes and grow and become better people. Really, what more can you ask of a writer?
I appreciate how seamlessly Wiles has integrated history (especially where it pertains to baseball and the integration of black people.) I love that it is House's understanding of this history, that enables him to make his own changes to it.
I am a fan about books about baseball, and this beautifully philosophical book, is one of my favourites.
What I didn't like:
This finished up the last in this series of books for me. I'm kind of heartbroken as I wish I could hang out with these people a bit longer.
The tale begins with the death of an elderly recluse, Mr Norwood Rhinehart Beauregard Boyd. It's the second time twelve year old, House Jackson, witnessed someone's death. The first person being his mother. Mr Boyd left a note leaving House, Leaves of Grass, a collection of Walt Whitman poetry. When House returned late that same night to pick it up, he met up with Pip Schotz, one of Boyd's friends and began to understand that there is much more to the people in his small town, than he could have imagined.
This story is set in a small town in America. It's the story of a baseball team that wants desperately to win the one and only real game they get to play each year. It's the story of a town wanting to celebrate the best of themselves in a pageant on the county's 200th anniversary. The catch is that the pageant and the annual baseball game are scheduled for July 4th at 4:00 pm. It looks like a recipe for disaster.
House Jackson wasn't able to pitch in last year's game because the director of this pageant, Frances Schotz, (now calling herself Finesse) caused an accident wherein he fell and broke his elbow. It was a bad break requiring setting twice. Instead of playing ball all year, House has been reading to Mr Norwood Boyd, who everyone calls Mean-Man Boyd. It's a secret that nobody but House, his father, and Mr Norwood Rhinehart Beauregard Boyd, the elderly recluse, know. House would rather keep it that way.
House is determined to face his problems this year. If he can figure out a way to keep Frances, and his best friend, Cleebo, under control, then maybe, just maybe, he might contrive to find a way out of this conflict and bring everyone and everything together.
What I liked:
I loved that each chapter is prefaced with a quote from either Walt Whitman or a baseball player. These little nuggets of wisdom set the stage for the events to come. I'm now determined to get and read Leaves of Grass.
I love love love these characters! I'm halfway in love with House Jackson. I adore his father and his little sister Honey. I'm even infatuated with Eudora, the dog. Even those characters who cause House grief, like his best friend, Cleebo, and Frances, the director, are full and rich individuals. They all make mistakes and grow and become better people. Really, what more can you ask of a writer?
I appreciate how seamlessly Wiles has integrated history (especially where it pertains to baseball and the integration of black people.) I love that it is House's understanding of this history, that enables him to make his own changes to it.
I am a fan about books about baseball, and this beautifully philosophical book, is one of my favourites.
What I didn't like:
This finished up the last in this series of books for me. I'm kind of heartbroken as I wish I could hang out with these people a bit longer.
allisonbsk's review against another edition
2.0
I love this author's books, have read a few already, but I have to say this was my least favorite. It did feel like coming home, coming back to this series (although we read them out of order), and that was a lot of fun. This little town- there's something to it that is so charming. I have to say this author can write, and write well, and she is spot on for her audience, too- she doesn't dumb things down at all, and it's great to see this. However, in this particular case, while this book tackled a lot of good issues, it did so in a glossed over, not real in-depth way, in my opinion. I would have liked to have seen a little more exploration of some of the bigger issues in this novel. Additionally, this book just felt really chopped up and off-pace, like it was cramming in too much, so it lost its punch and wasn't as engaging. I'm glad this wasn't my first read of this author, because then I might not have read other books by her and she really is wonderful. So even though this one might not have been a winner, I would still definitely stick around for future books for sure!
kinderny's review against another edition
2.0
The story of a small town baseball team’s pitcher, trying to overcome the ignominy of having his elbow broken by a girl- thereby missing the big game. This year the same girl’s comeback and gotten all the Mom’s to support a fashion show- which conflicts with this year’s big game. Author certainly gets the tone right- this is right in the zone (like the baseball metaphor) for middle readers. The book didn’t grab me but that could be because I am not a middle school boy. Funny in parts, the book had good writing, but didn’t appeal to the adult reader in me that much.