minty's review against another edition
5.0
I had never read this before--I suspect having moved from the States to Taiwan at age 7 meant it just slipped through the gap in curriculum. I remember others reading it, and I had a vague notion it was "sad," in that way that all the books we were assigned to read in elementary school were, but wow did I not expect to be crying on the couch for this.
What made it all the more sad was the interview at the end of the audiobook with the author and her son, where I learned that the book is based on the son and the best friend he lost (to a lightning strike!) when he was 7. Cue weeping.
Overall, though, I loved the storytelling, and the way the characters were so easily understood. All this time I thought the entire book was set in either a fantasy or just a foreign land; how surprised was I to find myself in Virginia! I think, overall, I could appreciate it more reading it as an adult, when losses like that have deeper meaning.
Loved Robert Sean Leonard as the narrator, too.
What made it all the more sad was the interview at the end of the audiobook with the author and her son, where I learned that the book is based on the son and the best friend he lost (to a lightning strike!) when he was 7. Cue weeping.
Overall, though, I loved the storytelling, and the way the characters were so easily understood. All this time I thought the entire book was set in either a fantasy or just a foreign land; how surprised was I to find myself in Virginia! I think, overall, I could appreciate it more reading it as an adult, when losses like that have deeper meaning.
Loved Robert Sean Leonard as the narrator, too.
mamreads0816's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
erinj254's review against another edition
4.0
I read this out loud to my 8-year-old. When we finished he asked if we can get more of Katherine Paterson's books. Win!!
canadawithoutthec's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
crismiaferrer's review against another edition
5.0
Had me crying on the rainbow carpet of my grade four classroom
car3b3ar's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0