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toebean5's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, school libraries- saving us awkward kids for generations. This book was very sweet, and the illustrations were great. I was worried it would be one of those 'ra, ra, go libraries' books, but it was not- it was more about the girl overcoming her anxieties and finding support from other strong females. And from the poetry of Mary Oliver, which was another sign in its favor.
erine's review against another edition
4.0
One would think the storyline of awkward child (teen/person) goes beyond their comfort zone to make a friend would at some point get tired. But it has not yet.
Nicky does not like playing with the other kids at recess and finds a welcome refuge in the school library. At first, the reader (me, anyway) might think that the other kids are being nasty, but that does not seem to be the case. Nicky is just shy. Or introverted. Or hesitant for some unnamed reason. She takes great pleasure in keeping the library organized and the chaos of the playground seems overwhelming for her.
But not all situations are so hard. At her mother's cafe, Nicky observes customers and occasionally strikes up a conversation. One such customer and conversation was with Maggie, a biker who brings her friends to the cafe. Nicky can see both the pleasure of quiet routine and the joy of a community. Finally forced to leave the library for recess, she remains quiet and isolated, but welcomes the overtures of a new friend. I liked that they used her poetry book to bond, and hope that Nicky can find comfort in both solitude and in new company going forward.
The illustrations are a fun mixed style.
Nicky does not like playing with the other kids at recess and finds a welcome refuge in the school library. At first, the reader (me, anyway) might think that the other kids are being nasty, but that does not seem to be the case. Nicky is just shy. Or introverted. Or hesitant for some unnamed reason. She takes great pleasure in keeping the library organized and the chaos of the playground seems overwhelming for her.
But not all situations are so hard. At her mother's cafe, Nicky observes customers and occasionally strikes up a conversation. One such customer and conversation was with Maggie, a biker who brings her friends to the cafe. Nicky can see both the pleasure of quiet routine and the joy of a community. Finally forced to leave the library for recess, she remains quiet and isolated, but welcomes the overtures of a new friend. I liked that they used her poetry book to bond, and hope that Nicky can find comfort in both solitude and in new company going forward.
The illustrations are a fun mixed style.
b_jud's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
illychilly's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rheawhea's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.75
The illustrations were lovely and the story sweet, but I think it could've been fleshed out to give the story more depth. I also think the ending was abrupt.
vouyagers's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jaij7's review against another edition
5.0
Themes: library, acceptance, friendship, feeling alone, Dewey
beths0103's review against another edition
5.0
Nicky loves her school library so much that she spends her recess helping the librarian re-shelve books. But when the librarian has to be gone for a week at a conference, Nicky must actually go to recess, which she is dreading.
This is a sweet story about taking risks, getting out of our comfort zones, and also still embracing a love a books as one navigates outside that comfort zone.
This is a sweet story about taking risks, getting out of our comfort zones, and also still embracing a love a books as one navigates outside that comfort zone.
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
"Everything has its place in the library. The books. Ms. Gillam. Me."
I'm trying real hard not to cry at the circulation desk right about now. This book is so sweet, so creative, so perfect in every which way, from the motorcyclist customer to the collage illustrations to the Mary Oliver reference to learning to take risks. Using crayons, multi-media, and pieces of paper from dictionaries, publication information, and the Dewey Decimal System, Pinkney Barlow's illustrations illuminate how multi-faceted Nicky is, how she herself is interested in so much, how she is so shy but is willing to be brave with just the gentlest of nudges. A beautiful book.
I'm trying real hard not to cry at the circulation desk right about now. This book is so sweet, so creative, so perfect in every which way, from the motorcyclist customer to the collage illustrations to the Mary Oliver reference to learning to take risks. Using crayons, multi-media, and pieces of paper from dictionaries, publication information, and the Dewey Decimal System, Pinkney Barlow's illustrations illuminate how multi-faceted Nicky is, how she herself is interested in so much, how she is so shy but is willing to be brave with just the gentlest of nudges. A beautiful book.