book_nut's Reviews (2.91k)

Clever, exciting, fast-paced -- reads kind of like a movie script. Great mystery and adventure book. Plus: a sequel in the works. Great fun.

I was impressed by this book (not moved, though): Bartoletti did an impressive job telling the story of Helmuth Hubner. And she was actually fair to Mormons, which impressed me. My only complaint was that it would have worked better as an older book; because it was for middle grade readers, Bartoletti glossed over a lot of the more painful events, which I think would have lent the book more weight and power. But it was good, nonetheless.

I liked the perspective and main character of the book -- he has cerebral palsy, and I think White should be admired for creating a character so rich and so detailed as Sam. But... the plot didn't grab me. And I'm finding myself turned off by books with bad mothers. Ah, well.

Quick, first impressions: incredible writing. Tight, lyrical -- almost poetic. Loved the characters, Jamie, her dad The Colonel, especially. I loved her relationship with her brother, TJ. I loved the discoveries she made about the war, and about her life. A moving portrait of how war affects people. Loved it.

It was okay, but not what I was expecting. Too much violence against animals, and a contrived ending. Though it had a nice positive streak through it.

A really good story about a 13-year-old boy who's been cast out of his Amazon tribe, and his quest to return. Better than the cover will have you think.

A fun, clever little book. I thought it'd be a mystery, but it wasn't very mysterious. Good adventure book, though, and I loved the main character, Cat. She was quite the spitfire.

Don't ask. You don't want to know. For the record: I bailed.

Go read someone else's review of this book. Erdrich's style doesn't agree with me. It's not the book. It's me.

My main complaint -- aside from it not being much of a mystery -- is that the adults did all the work in a kid's book. The kids didn't do a whole heck of a lot besides wandering around and thinking about mobiles and art. Yawn.