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erinthelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This was an amazing book that is going to linger with me for a long time - at which point I may add to or amend my review. It's an amazing, well written book that I have hard time imagining I would recommend to very many children. It's a brutal book about love, loss and life, but I was hooked until the very end - and I was surprised which is rare.
kehmen's review against another edition
3.0
too sad for the kids, and not something I want to finish right now. It'll go on the shelf for awhile.
kim_j_dare's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful, lyrical writing... evocative descriptions of ageless bayous... the way that Kathi Appelt played with time and her intertwining of legends across years... this book swept me up in the best kind of magic.
readballoon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
jadajing's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure where this book belongs and, frankly, I'm a bit surprised that it won a Newbery Honor Award. The writing was lyrical and poetic, but the tone of the story was too dark, in my opinion, for a grade school reader.
hnbb's review against another edition
2.0
My son was excited to see me reading this. Unfortunately I couldn't get through it. I am not a big animal person. This just reiterated it to me. The writing style was very vivid and visual, but the story line just wasn't for me. I will stick with her picture books for now.
jennymock's review against another edition
4.0
If you want a good cry, then this is your book. It reminds me of "Where the Red Fern Grows" and at the same time "Charlotte's Web." The villain is incredibly horrendous and absolutely heartless, which we learn is the result of years of abuse by his father. The heroes are advocates of love and compassion in the form of innocent animals and a child.
I'm torn about where to shelve this book. Should it go into the middle school side because they can handle the sensitive nature of this book or should it go into the elementary side because they will empathize the most with the heroes? I may have to put a copy on each side...
I'm torn about where to shelve this book. Should it go into the middle school side because they can handle the sensitive nature of this book or should it go into the elementary side because they will empathize the most with the heroes? I may have to put a copy on each side...
lannthacker's review against another edition
2.0
J APPELT - cats, dogs, shape shifters, animal cruelty
10+
10+