Top Five
For the past several years, we’ve surveyed you about your “nominations” at various points in the fall, mirroring the process that the real committee follows. We skipped October and are late here in 
November. The reason that I’ve dragged my heels here is that (a) for me, THE FAMILY ROMANOV and BROWN GIRL DREAMING remain in a class of their own and (b) many of the texts that I admire most this year are, not surprisingly, illustrated. Nevertheless, I would love to hear what five books you would have put forth for the committee to consider, with or without a brief rationalization. We are getting ready to unveil our shortlist next week, and–who knows–maybe your passionate and logical arguments will help us choose that last book or two.
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About Jonathan Hunt
Jonathan Hunt is the Coordinator of Library Media Services at the San Diego County Office of Education. He served on the 2006 Newbery committee, and has also judged the Caldecott Medal, the Printz Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. You can reach him at hunt_yellow@yahoo.com
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I haven’t read BROWN GIRL DREAMING yet, but my top two, so far, are WEST OF THE MOON and ABSOLUTELY ALMOST.
THE RIVERMAN
FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH
PORT CHICAGO 50
THE FAMILY ROMANOV (with some reservations which I need to post about in the ROMANOV comments soon)
BROWN GIRL DREAMING
Wish I could include Red Madness but I think the low def photos and poor layout distract a bit too much.
I’m with Jonathan in thinking that this year’s caldecott race is much more exciting. Looking forward to next year already when we can talk about the final Clementine and the next penderwicks.
Okay, blasphemous as this may sound, I just don’t get the love for BROWN GIRL DREAMING. I don’t get it. Is this “distinguished” because it’s written by Woodson? Is this “distinguished” because it’s written in verse? What makes this story “distinguished” exactly? What did I miss?
My top 5:
1. THE PORT CHICAGO 50
2. THE NIGHT GARDENER
3. GREENGLASS HOUSE
4. THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH
5. BOYS OF BLUR
The Holm is there because I love Holm. GREENGLASS HOUSE and THE NIGHT GARDENER are there for plotting. I thought the plotting and the intricate story woven in THE NIGHT GARDENER was highly imaginative and incredible. Might be my favorite by the time this is all said and done. GREENGLASS HOUSE was just a fun read! Great vocabulary used to challenge readers, plot twists, and interesting character development.
Having finished GREENGLASS HOUSE and THE NIGHT GARDENER recently, I’m not finding myself wanting to fight for BOYS OF BLUR as much anymore, but I’d still put it there.
Guess I’m not hiding my genre bias with most of those picks, am I?
I am limited to choosing from the dozen or so titles I’ve actually read. Haven’t read THE FAMILY ROMANOV yet, or EGG AND SPOON or WEST OF THE MOON.
I think there’s plenty of discussion about what aspects of Brown Girl Dreaming people consider distinguished under its post. Why would it be “because it’s written by Woodson”? There are plenty of other novels in verse this year that aren’t receiving the same accolades, so it isn’t just because it’s written in verse, but I do think this is a superb example of it.
You make it sound like I’m not following along with a conversation when in fact, I feel like I asked a legitimate question. What exactly is distinguished about BROWN GIRL DREAMING?
The initial post for the book actually only generated 15 comments:
– 3 comments were specifically about the age range of the novel
– 2 comments were actually about how the ending of the novel didn’t work
– 2 comments were a general statement about how THE FAMILY ROMANOV was better and Jonathan following it up with a bunch of smiley faces
– 2 comments (by you and Nina) referenced how distinguished the poems are because they work independently as well as together as a whole novel
– 4 comments are referencing “original work” and the use of song lyrics in the book
– 2 comments are about the voice in the other verse novel Nina brought up in the post
I’d hardly count the 2 comments made by you and Nina as “plenty of discussion.” In fact, the reason I asked the question in the first place is because, for being the clear front runner, I was surprised by the lack of specific discussion BROWN GIRL DREAMING generated on this blog. Maybe that discussion is coming.
I read it and just didn’t find it “distinguished.” Pretty poems and language? Sure. I’m just confused as to why this stands above all the other titles so much in other people’s eyes. But, maybe you can see from my preference of choices, why I’m confused by that!
The poetry of Brown Girl Dreaming threw me off at first – especially trying to find the voice. I had to reread the beginning parts several times. I think this was a bias/weakness of me as a reader. I couldn’t wrap my head around Woodson speaking of herself as an infant. It really came together for me when her mother left them in SC with the grandparents. Her descriptions of her struggles as a student and the moment when she became a writer is gold. I think the book is distinguished in setting, character and theme. I also have the advantage of having heard her talk in person. Reading the book again after her speech cinched this as a Newbery front runner. The committee maybe have totally different ideas of course. I still have quite a long 2014 reading list, but of what I have read, nothing comes close to Brown Girl Dreaming. It deserves to remain as a permanent part of the children’s literature canon.
I am still reading Brown Girl Dreaming, but I am struggling to find it distinguished as well. I find it interesting that you bring up the “written by Woodson” as a possible reason why others are finding so much to love in this book. I find the poetry beautiful, the settings and characters well-drawn, but it feels to me to be lacking the same richness and depth of character for our narrator herself. I am struggling to find her in it clearly, and I wonder if this is easier for those who bring a strong familiarity and love of Woodson’s work to their reading.
Here’s what I meant by “written by Woodson…”
Woodson is a very likable author. Her work is highly celebrated. Three different times her books have been awarded a Newbery Honor. Any novel by Woodson is going to generate a certain type of buzz, but a novel written in verse about this likable author’s childhood… Boy, I could have told you this was going to be a Newbery shoe-in before it was even released!
That’s not a knock toward Woodson. I highly doubt she wrote this novel with the hopes of a Newbery Medal being awarded it. I just think people are reading this book and developing a sort of emotional liking to it, outside the Newbery criteria. That’s just my opinion. It’s obviously not others’ as the book has wound up in most people’s Top 5 on here (and was awarded the NBA). It’s just that when people begin to talk about its distinguished features, I don’t hear much other than vague praise.
I thought the beginning of the novel was terribly slow and unconnected. I’m thoroughly confused by people who find the character development to be distinguished because like you, I don’t feel Woodson in it as a character at all, at least not until over halfway through. As Wendy pointed out earlier, the poems are interesting because they are not always connected to each other, but this is what bogs down the cohesiveness of the narrative in my opinion. It’s hard to tell what the point of all of it is or where she is going with some of the memories. I even found the title misleading, as Woodson doesn’t really become present in the novel until over halfway into it.
It’s a pretty book with pretty language (and a pretty cover), I’m just not willing to put it head and shoulders above everything else out there yet.
I generally hate novels in verse and have no particular fan background with Woodson’s books. I think one reason it may be hard (from your POV, anyway) for people to be specific about what is distinguished about this book is that it’s simply so good. I feel like it speaks for itself. This wouldn’t fly on the committee, obviously, and it doesn’t help you understand any better why people would find it distinguished, but I think that may be the reason–rather than it not being truly distinguished. I was drawn into it immediately–I didn’t find it slow at all–and am puzzled that you would find Woodson’s character didn’t become present until more than halfway through. As with most books that start with very young characters (say, Laura Ingalls Wilder), at first the focus is more broadly on the family and it narrows down to become more about the individual as that individual develops into her own person.
I did say that each poem was individual, but I certainly didn’t mean to say they weren’t connected–the point I was trying to make is that they are individual poems that work together to make a cohesive narrative and a book that is even greater than the sum of its parts.
We’ll almost certainly have another go at BROWN GIRL DREAMING where we can talk about the distinguished qualities of it. Of course, Woodson’s popularity is a factor, too, but that doesn’t mean the two are mutually exclusive. One can be a fan of Jacqueline Woodson, be rooting for her to win, and also find this the most distinguished book of the year in an objective sense. Let’s put the shoe on the other foot. If Jenni Holm, who also has three Newbery Honors by the way and is also extremely popular, had written a book that was widely considered her best book, better than AMELIA MAY, PENNY FROM HEAVEN, and TURTLE IN PARADISE, you don’t think there would be a similar hype machine? Of course there would. One of the things that reading so many books, rereading so many books, and talking only about the books does is that it really is all about the book and not the author. Your able to shed most of your baggage along the way.
I also loved “The Night Gardener” and “Greenglass House”. Please find a few hours to read “West of the Moon” by Margi Preus. A common thread between the three titles is the folklore that is seamlessly woven throughout the stories. With a plot twist, character development and insight into the author’s ancestor’s immigration journey from Norway to America, “West of the Moon” gets my vote for “distinguished”.
BOYS OF BLUR
BOYS OF BLUR
THE CROSSOVER
PORT CHICAGO 50
PAPER COWBOY
RAIN REIGN
In no particular order…
REVOLUTION
EL DEAFO
THE RIVERMAN
THE PRINCESS IN BLACK
SPARKY!
I don’t need to say anything more about the first three. Oh wait, I should say that someone generously allowed me a couple days with their ARC of THE WHISPER. I put a few, non-spoiler thoughts on Goodreads (my first ever “review”). Anyway, THE RIVERMAN does take a small hit, for me, but still stays in my top five. I think SPARKY! and THE PRINCESS IN BLACK are near perfect texts. I’d guess it’d be easier to drum up support for the latter, but I’m not holding my breath for either one getting real support.
The Princess in Black is one I agree with emphatically. I believe it is much harder to write a book with limited vocabulary and also tell an interesting story. And to also stomp all over a number of tropes and stereotypes as well, that is wonderful! The story is a good story in terms of heroine, supporting character (male), nosy neighbor, and did I mention the heroine? We have a girl who is a prim princess, does everything just so proper and perfect, that any royal family would be proud of. But before we can lose readers who start mumbling about BORING….she has a secret…. And the scramble at the end to resume her proper self is just loads of fun to read! Pair an excellent story with a vocabulary and length about the incredibly difficult grade 3 level, you have a real winner! When are we getting an award for this level, the grade 2-3/4 level? That is getting a bit beyond the Geisel but tends to be neglected by the Newbery. I’m really not in favor of still more awards but as long as long ALA seems to be piling more and more awards into kids’ lit, I’d like to see one addressing the beginning chapter books crowd. This is when we really lose readers who had a rocky start to reading. Here they are beginning to get this reading stuff down and there are very little really excellent books at that level to engage them. Adler and Danziger (and her successors) have a lock on quality series with Cam Jansen and Amber Brown (And of course Ramona and Henry Huggins!) and we need a lot more variety as well as quality there!
Brown Girl Dreaming
Port Chicago 50
West of the Moon
The Crossover
Absolutely Almost
These are my top five, though I’m waffling a bit in having co-top picks:
1. Brown Girl Dreaming/Revolution
Mr. H., what you’re missing with Brown Girl Dreaming is the elegant verse, the beauty of language so carefully crafted. Have you slowed down, read it aloud, read it to someone? Have you listened to the author read it? (There’s a sample at Amazon.) I’ve read it (and Revolution) with my 7th graders, and they have written lovely poems inspired by Woodson’s book.
Revolution is a wonderful book, too. It’s easy to focus on all of the visuals, but it’s a beautifully written novel, too. Wiles’s prose shines. And, as I commented earlier, I think the dual narratives work well; I do not think it’s a problem at all that Raymond’s narrative is less frequent than Sunny’s; this is Sunny’s story, her point of view, and Raymond is there as a parallel, though less frequent, narrative voice that is part of broadening Sunny’s view of her world. And the voices converge as the characters themselves converge at the end of the story. And, by the way, the audiobook is superb and does an excellent job with all of that visual material. In fact, I played the audio of some of the scrapbooks for my classes.
3. Port Chicago 50
4. The Family Romanov
5. The Turtle of Oman
Dean Schneider
I have the book on loan from my library for a few more weeks. Being a somewhat easy read, I’ll try and revisit it and do just what you suggested, read some of it aloud to students and see what I think.
My bias… Poetry isn’t really my thing. Maybe I didn’t give the novel a fair shake on its first read because of this. Since Woodson is so highly celebrated, I just felt that this was the type of book the committee would eat up and probably read it with a bit of cynicism. Not fair to the book I suppose.
These are my top 5, though I’m waffling by having co- top picks.
1. BROWN GIRL DREAMING/REVOLUTION
3. PORT CHICAGO 50
4. THE FAMILY ROMANOV
5. THE TURTLE OF OMAN
Dean Schneider
Sorry for posting twice; I thought I had lost the first one.
Revolution
brown girl dreaming
The Port Chicago 50
The Family Romanov
The Fourteenth Goldfish
1. Revolution: Wiles wildly succeeds in her “documentary novel” here – the woven biographies and non-fiction pieces are more fully realized than they were with Countdown (which I liked, but not as much as I like Revolution).
2. brown girl dreaming: My 6th grade students are not enamored with this one (whereas, so far, they love Revolution). I thought it was exquisite, but I’m an admitted Woodson fanboy.
3. The Port Chicago 50: While not as expertly and intricately constructed as Bomb, it’s still beautifully written. Admitted Sheinkin fanboy, too. So take it for what it’s worth.
4. The Family Romanov: the best nonfiction book I’ve read since Bomb. Jaw-dropping in its execution. I wonder, though, if it skews more Printz, though.
5. The Fourteenth Goldfish: I am not a Holm fanboy, but I found this frothy and sweet and funny. It also packs quite a punch. While everything seems like a romp, the message really hits home in the final pages. Quite a feat.
I have to say, too, that with the whole idiotic Common Core push for non-fiction, “student engagement”, text sets, and primary documents (all things that librarians have been embedded in, promoting, and working with for years – if not decades), I think it would be a political move for the committee to choose a non-fiction book. For me, that would seem slightly cheap and lose a little luster for me. I realize I am likely in the minority. My education views are less than mainstream. 🙂
(not in order)
Brown Girl Dreaming
Rain Reign
El Deafo (c’mon it’s time for a graphic!)
Absolutely Almost
Night Gardener
Romanovs seems oldish to me. Not sure about 14 goldfish … although I think Holm is a very talented writer.
Then again, I am still hung up on the year Because of Winn-Dixie didn’t win. How’s that for stubborn?
In no order:
THE FAMILY ROMANOV
BROWN GIRL DREAMING
THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH
THE CROSSOVER
WEST OF THE MOON
In no particular order:
The Family Romanov
The Fourteenth Goldfish
The Crossover
Revolution
El Deafo
Boys of Blur (for setting, character, and themes)
Greenglass House (for character, plot, setting, and themes)
The Crossover (for voice and character)
Brown Girl Dreaming (for voice, setting, and themes)
The Night Gardener (for setting and plot)
I STILL haven’t read The Family Romanov. Trying to figure a way to squeeze it in during my Cybils reading, but really all I want to read when I’m not reading for Cybils is brain candy. It’s that time of year…
Brown Girl Dreaming
The Family Romanov
The Riverman
Revolution
___________?
I still need to read Crossover and West of the Moon. I’d love to see something early-chapter-bookish win like Princess in Black.
Brown Girl Dreaming just hit something for me and my 5th graders are fighting over my one copy ever since I read them an except.. Might be because I was almost crying. I like West of the Moon but can’t get kids to read it. Fourteenth Goldfish was fun for sure. It took me a bit to get into The Greenglass House and think it would be same way for kids. I don’t understand why nobody has mentioned Fleabrain Loves Fanny!? It is one of my favorites.
I am reading GREENGLASS HOUSE to my 5th graders and it took them no time at all to get into it. They are rather obsessed with it actually!
In no particular order…
The Paper Cowboy
Nest
Absolutely Almost
The Secret Hum of a Daisy
Port Chicago 50
Have BGD, El Deafo, and All Four Stars in line right now.
In order (thought the order is subject to change)
1) The Family Romanov
2) Under the Egg
3) The Night Gardener
4) The Fourteenth Goldfish
5) Freedom Summer
On a slightly related note, I was surprised to see so many people make mention of The Riverman. I thoroughly enjoyed that novel, but I think it has far too much teen content to be eligible for a Newbery. It is near the top of my Printz list though, second only to We Were Liars.
THE FAMILY ROMANOV
HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS
WINTER BEES AND OTHER POEMS OF THE COLD
BROWN GIRL DREAMING
ARCADY’S GOAL
Not sure about the order at this point and cannot whittle down to just 5 (sorry, I’m working on it!)
REVOLUTION
BROWN GIRL DREAMING
PORT CHICAGO 50
FAMILY ROMANOV
FREEDOM SUMMER MURDERS
NUTS TO YOU
GHOSTS OF TUPELO LANDING
They all stand above the other titles I’ve read since we started, in terms of plot, development of characters, drawing the reader in and holding them until the last page — and being unforgettable when the reader is finished.
THE FAMILY ROMANOV
BROWN GIRL DREAMING
REVOLUTION
GREENGLASS HOUSE
WEST OF THE MOON (wavered between that and THE NIGHT GARDENER)
(While these aren’t quite my top five, so don’t count them in the vote, I’d be perfectly happy to see The Night Gardener, Absolutely Almost, The Crossover, or The Fourteenth Goldfish end up on the shortlist. They were the ones I considered for my top five besides the five I voted for.)
El Deafo would be on my list, if I hadn’t been convinced by the discussion that it wouldn’t make it on text alone. I want a graphic novel award!
So excited about this time of year… LOVE what you do on Heavy Medal to keep us up to date with what’s hot.
These are all on my radar, and although I’m having to read many on kindle due to being in Shanghai, I am loving the Newbery options this season.
I just finished The Crossover today and thought it was brilliantly written.
1. The Crossover
2. Absolutely Almost
3. Brown Girl Dreaming
4. The Fourteenth Goldfish
5. A Snicker of Magic
But I reserve the right to change, juggle, jiggle, add, cross off and adapt right up to the line…
I plan to read everything mentioned on this page before then!
Happy Medal Season Everyone
Barefoot Librarian
I’m slightly behind in my Newbery reading, but here are my current top 5 titles.
BROWN GIRL DREAMING
THE FAMILY ROMANOV
WEST OF THE MOON
THE NIGHT GARDENER
GHOSTS OF TUPELO LANDING
Nest
The Night Gardener
The Boys of Blur
El Deafo
The Crossover
(but I still have not read The Family Romanov or Brown Girl Dreaming)
Brown Girl Dreaming
El Deafo
The Night Gardener
Revolution
The Fourteenth Goldfish
I haven’t gotten ahold of The Crossover or Greenglass house yet and I want to go back and reread Family Romanov, since I read it in ARC form and it was awhile ago. Another reread might also knock Night Gardener off of there in favor of either West of the Moon or Egg and Spoon.
NIGHT GARDENER
GREENGLASS HOUSE
REVOLUTION
BROWN GIRL DREAMING
GHOSTS OF TUPELO LANDING
Haven’t gotten a copy of Family Romanov, yet. Though I suspect that it will move it’s way into the top bunch for me.
THE NIGHT GARDENER
THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH
REVOLUTION
BOYS OF BLUR
EL DEAFO
I still haven’t read nearly enough of the contenders, but I finished Brown Girl Dreaming yesterday and loved it. For me, the craft stands out as I look back and attempt to write a review. I like the way she focuses on individual moments, but it all comes together as a cohesive whole.
I thought The Night Gardener was exquisitely done. It reminded me of Splendors & Glooms — but I liked it much more. Perhaps simply because the children were more kind-hearted? But it also didn’t have the world-building quibbles the other did. I know, I know — not supposed to compare with previous years. Good plotting and theme and characters. It would have been too scary for me as a child, but as an adult, I loved it.
And Princess in Black! What a good idea! I wouldn’t have thought of it for the Newbery (I know, mea culpa), but it is indeed so distinguished at what it does.
A Snicker of Magic won me over. I’m not sure how much scrutiny it would stand up under.
And to throw in another early chapter book, how about Emily’s Blue Period, by Cathleen Daly. (I also would consider Anna & Solomon, by Elaine Snyder.)
1. Brown Girl Dreaming
2. The Night Gardener
3. The Princess in Black
4. A Snicker of Magic
5. Emily’s Blue Period
In no particular order yet, mine are:
The Night Gardener
Rain Reign
Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms
The Key that Swallowed Joey Pigza
Fly Away
I guess I am hesitating to jump on the many bandwagons for various nonfiction titles, as I trust Jonathan to make sure those are carefully considered. Trying though to expand the universe we are considering.
CARTWHEELING IN THUNDERSTORMS is a British author. Do you want to name a replacement?
What we have so far . . .
(17) BROWN GIRL DREAMING
(12) THE FAMILY ROMANOV
(11) THE NIGHT GARDENER
(9) THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH
(9) REVOLUTION
(8) THE PORT CHICAGO 50
(7) THE CROSSOVER
(6) EL DEAFO
(5) ABSOLUTELY ALMOST
(5) WEST OF THE MOON
(4) GREENGLASS HOUSE
(3) THE RIVERMAN
(3) THE GHOSTS OF TUPELO LANDING
(3) RAIN REIGN
(2) NEST
(2) A SNICKER OF MAGIC
(2) PAPER COWBOY
(2) THE PRINCESS IN BLACK
(1) FLY AWAY
(1) THE KEY THAT SWALLOWED JOEY PIGZA
(1) EMILY’S BLUE PERIOD
(1) NUTS TO YOU
(1) ARKADY’S GOAL
(1) WINTER BEES
(1) THE FREEDOM SUMMER MURDERS
(1) FREEDOM SUMMER
(1) HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS
(1) THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY
(1) UNDER THE EGG
(1) THE TURTLE OF OMAN
(1) SPARKY!
Number 3 for me is THE NIGHT GARDENER. Literary genre fiction.
My top 5:
GREENGLASS HOUSE
THE CROSSOVER
THE PAPER COWBOY
CAMINAR
THE NIGHT GARDENER
My Mock Newbery Committee (4th-6th graders) just voted for finalists, and they are:
GREENGLASS HOUSE
THE NIGHT GARDENER
UPSIDE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
NEST
WHEN AUDREY MET ALICE
CURIOSITY
THE CROSSOVER
The Night Gardener
Greenglass House
Rain Reign
A Snicker of Magic
I just got The Family Romanov at the library yesterday and am looking forward to reading it this weekend!
I haven’t had that “A-ha” feeling I get in some years, and what I’d like to see win is different from what I think will win.
I’d like to see awards go to:
The Crossover
Absolutely Almost
El Deafo
I think awards will go to:
Brown Girl Dreaming
Family Romanov
West of the Moon
Apropos of nothing . . . Oh, Kirkus! What do we have to do to get your Best Books in an easily printable PDF the way that we used to?
ODD, WEIRD, & LITTLE made Kirkus’s Best Books list! That one, by Patrick Jennings, is close to Top 5 for me! For the sake of getting it’s name out there, I may just change my Top 5. Is that allowed?!?
1. The Night Gardener – for all of the reasons listed above and also for the many powerful themes – What is really important? Why are stories important? How do we define family? Persevere always. This book is so vivid and well-structured, but offers so much more on a deeper level. My favorite so far!
2. The Turtle of Oman – Simple in a Kevin Henkes way, and such a specific yet universal story about home and what we carry with us.
3. The Crossover – My students LOVE this book, and it speaks to them!
4. Half a Chance – I love the structure of this and the character development. I love the imagery of the loons and how that was tied in so perfectly at the end.
5. The Fourteenth Goldfish – This was a fun adventure that brought up some interesting discussion questions. I am not sure this will stay in my top five for Newbery contenders, because I just finished it and want to see how well it sticks with me first.
I know Joey Pigza is a favorite for many, and I know the argument is that adults will read this differently than kids, but that aside, it was disturbing to me. As a teacher I simply couldn’t believe the school would let him leave school alone on the heels of a call from his mentally ill mother, especially without ever checking in after his unexcused absences. Forgiveness is important, and Joey has an incredible heart, but I also couldn’t buy the ending. Forgiveness is good, but some people aren’t good to have in our lives. This book didn’t sit well with me at all.
Top 5
brown girl dreaming
west of the moon
nightingales nest
the red pencil
night gardener
I am not making a list but have a few comments that might fit here.
Since no one has spoken up for Cynthia Lord’s HALF A CHANCE except Susie, I’ll add my support. I haven’t read nearly enough other books this year to call it “the one,” but much of it is still fresh in my mind while others have faded. I think the treatment of Alzheimer’s is done with sensitivity, and the relationships between the various characters feels realistic. The use of the loons is quite effective and the ending is satisfying and memorable.
Another novel I’ve read and would argue deserves at least an honor is HALF A WORLD AWAY by Kadohata. Here’s a book that speaks to me but not because of my role as an adoptive mother. In general, I’m more critical of adoption books because they seldom get it right. But this one — with its third person point of view limited to that of twelve-year-old Jaden — reveals the heart of adoptive families with their often messed up but hopeful lives. The book captures a sense of the slightly insane longing of some people who try to “save the world” one child at a time. And in the end, Jaden, himself, is infected with that desire to do something unwise, unsafe, but totally human. As Jonathan said, ” … . just another wonderful piece of storytelling with strong, plot, characters, and setting.” I also read KINDA LIKE BROTHERS by Coe Booth, and it’s very well done and a good book to read and discuss along with HALF A WORLD AWAY.
I am chiming in way late, but…
1. GREENGLASS HOUSE
2. WEST OF THE MOON
3. HALF A WORLD AWAY
4. EGG AND SPOON
5. BROWN GIRL DREAMING