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Gingersnap
It's 1944, W.W. II is raging. Jayna's big brother Rob is her only family. When Rob is called to duty on a destroyer, Jayna is left in their small town in upstate New York with their cranky landlady. But right before he leaves, Rob tells Jayna a secret: they may have a grandmother in Brooklyn. Rob found a little blue recipe book with her name and an address for a bakery. Wh...more
Hardcover, 160 pages
Published
January 8th 2013
by Wendy Lamb Books
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A turtle, a blue recipe book, a ghostly presence -- these are the things that accompany young Jayna as she travels by herself to Brooklyn. How did she get to this point? -- lonely, desperate, plodding towards her destination lugging a turtle in a cat carrier with the blisters on her heels getting bigger with every step. Of course, Jayna knows how it all started -- the accident, her parents dying...suddenly, her older brother Rob was the only one she had left. Then World War II erupted, stealing...more
Author: Patricia Reilly Giff
Published by: Wendy Lamb Books
Age Recommended: Children 10 +
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 5
Review:
"Gingersnap" by Patricia Reilly Giff was a very well written read that will give us some historical history that was going on during WWII. Along with this being a family read it does have some ghost issues. This author is a wonderful story teller being about to take you so a different time. This was during a time in history WWII when a brother (Rob)af...more
Published by: Wendy Lamb Books
Age Recommended: Children 10 +
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 5
Review:
"Gingersnap" by Patricia Reilly Giff was a very well written read that will give us some historical history that was going on during WWII. Along with this being a family read it does have some ghost issues. This author is a wonderful story teller being about to take you so a different time. This was during a time in history WWII when a brother (Rob)af...more
Gingersnap is an orphan. After years of bouncing between foster homes, her brother finally becomes old enough to adopt her and they become a family of two. After a year, however, WWII breaks out and Gingersnap's brother, Rob, gets called into action, leaving her to live with the landlady. After Rob goes missing in action, Gingersnap, at the urging of a ghost, seeks something to hold onto, and goes in search of the family she never knew.
This book was beautifully written. There was ample descripti...more
This book was beautifully written. There was ample descripti...more
recipes seasoned with herbs and care are always the best - even when ingredients are rationed and scarce.
Janea lives with her brother Rob. He’s nine years older than she is and has just become old enough to gain custody and take her from foster care. That’s been their dream since she’s been five and Rob has visited her every Sunday. Finally they can build a home together. It is a home of love, stories, shared meals, soup and change. Rob is a cook at the Navy base and he’s about to be shipped out...more
Janea lives with her brother Rob. He’s nine years older than she is and has just become old enough to gain custody and take her from foster care. That’s been their dream since she’s been five and Rob has visited her every Sunday. Finally they can build a home together. It is a home of love, stories, shared meals, soup and change. Rob is a cook at the Navy base and he’s about to be shipped out...more
Jayna, called Gingernsaps, has been "displaced" by World War II. Orphaned at so young an age that she doesn't remember her parents, Jayna has had only her elder brother to rely on for memories of their parents. When her brother Rob leaves home to become a cook aboard the USS Muldoon Jayna is saddened. She goes to live with a seemingly cantankerous landlady. By this time Jayna has become acquainted with a ghost who lacks an identity (she doesn't know who she is). After Rob goes missing in action...more
Initial reaction: Despite this being a very quick read and for a young audience, I had a very difficult time getting into this book. Not that I didn't appreciate the characters and the storyline, but it just didn't grab and hold me in several areas of the narrative. I'd like to explore more of the author's work, considering there were parts of this I did like, but overall, it didn't really leave an impression on me.
Full review:
I feel bad in penning this review because usually I love period ficti...more
Full review:
I feel bad in penning this review because usually I love period ficti...more
It is 1944 and Jayna's big brother Rob, the only family she has, is a cook in the Navy. Jayna and Rob were separated for years, placed in separate foster homes after the automobile deaths of their parents. But when Rob turned 18, he got custody of Jayna. Only now Rob has received his orders to report to his ship for deployment to the war in the Pacific. Rob have made arrangements for Jayna to stay with thier landlady Celine for the time he is away.
Rob may be a great cook, but Jayna has a way wi...more
Rob may be a great cook, but Jayna has a way wi...more
There's a nasty disease that attacks gifted writers. It doesn't manifest itself right away. In fact, the writer is somewhat immune to it at first. It's only after maybe the 5th or 6th successful story that it begins to rear it's ugly head (some extra special ones last much longer than just 5 or 6.) I don't know what the disease is called, but it attacks the writer's creativity and ability to grasp the reader right from the start. It causes the author to take shortcuts and abandon all they had do...more
Giff hasn't been this lazy since her entry in the Women of Our Time biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder for which research seemed to consist roughly of...reading Wilder's books and retelling the series in 60 pages. With few period details and stock characters, Giff takes an intriguing idea: what if a ghost helps an orphan whose brother has gone into World War II as a cook to find a new family? Unfortunately, the novel was just poorly executed and seemed "phoned in." The ghost was just like set dr...more
Orphaned Jayna is in a difficult position when her older brother and guardian, Rob, is sent to fight in World War II. She's fortunate that their landlady, Celine, is willing to take her in, because Jayna has spent some time in foster care. Jayna isn't happy, though, and knows that having her is a hardship for Celine. Before he left, Rob gave her a cookbook he found that lead him to believe that they may have a grandmother in Brooklyn who is running a bakery. Armed with this book and a little mon...more
In 1944, Jayna is disheartened that her older brother, Rob (who began taking care of Jayna after the death of their parents and some time in various foster homes) is called to war in the Pacific. Rob arranges for her to stay with their landlord, Celine during his service, but before he leaves, he lets her in on a secret: that they may have a grandmother in Brooklyn who runs a bakery, and shows her a box with items related to their grandmother. Months later, when news arrives that Rob is missing...more
Patricia Reilly Giff is such a gifted story teller! From the very beginning, she weaves a beautiful story that invites the reader into the pages.
In Gingersnap, Giff tells of a brother and sister who have nothing left but each other. Rob, the brother, is going off to war, and Jayna is left to the care of Celine, a caring, but nagging landlady. Days go by, and Jayna makes her soups, with such poignant names, such as “Feel-Better Vegetable Soup.” She writes letters to Rob, goes to school, and wait...more
This is the second "tween" book I have read this week that had recipes. The first was "Pie". Both are going to appeal more to girls -- and maybe the do fill a gap after the "American Girl" series, as someone else suggested. Or in conjunction with "Little House"?
Set close to the end of WW2, Gingersnap is the nickname of a 12 year old orphan named Jayna. Her only relative is an older brother, a Navy cook, who has just received orders to deploy to the Pacific. Jayna is left with Celine, their land...more
Set close to the end of WW2, Gingersnap is the nickname of a 12 year old orphan named Jayna. Her only relative is an older brother, a Navy cook, who has just received orders to deploy to the Pacific. Jayna is left with Celine, their land...more
Recommended for grades 5-6
Set during WWII, Jayna lives with her older brother Rob after going through a series of foster homes following the death of their parents. Soon into the story Rob is called to duty on a warship, leaving Jayna with their landlady. While Rob is gone Jayna is constantly worrying about his wellbeing, and it is during this time of emotional stress that Jayna begins to see and hear a ghost. The ghost girl leads Jayna to finding a grandmother in Brooklyn. Sneaking off on her o...more
Set during WWII, Jayna lives with her older brother Rob after going through a series of foster homes following the death of their parents. Soon into the story Rob is called to duty on a warship, leaving Jayna with their landlady. While Rob is gone Jayna is constantly worrying about his wellbeing, and it is during this time of emotional stress that Jayna begins to see and hear a ghost. The ghost girl leads Jayna to finding a grandmother in Brooklyn. Sneaking off on her o...more
Ok...this is a children's book and my daughters have advanced beyond this reading level...but I guess I have not. Pictures of Hollis Woods..Lily's Crossing...I loved reading these. When I read in a book review that Giff had a new book, I had to read it. I enjoyed reading Gingersnap. It was a good book, but it could have been a great book. Basically it is the story of a 10 year old girl who is in search of her grandmother, who may or may not exist. Jayna has one clue...a little recipe book. It i...more
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Set during WWII, Jayna and her older brother are the only members in a small family, and when he goes missing in the Pacific she waits to hear if he is alive. Without telling the landlady Celine (Jayna's guardian), Jayna goes to Brooklyn to try and find a possible grandmother who may still be alive. At only 150 pages, this novel has a sweetness without being cloying, and the tension surrounding the mystery of the grandmother or the brother's status is not strung out. Hooray for the day when thou...more
I loved this book. Patricia Reilly Giff is one of my favorite Children's author. It is a great historical fiction read about a girl named Jayna during the second world war. All she has left is her brother and he is sent off to fight in the war. She is left staying with the land lady. Right before her brother leaves he tells her about a box in his closet with a recipe book in it. The recipe book has a picture and an address of a person who could be their grandmother. Jayna starts seeing a ghost r...more
I've been reading a lot of foodie books during my kitchen remodel. This historical fiction/ghost story qualifies. Gingersnap is a soup expert and her story is peppered with her soup recipes. This WWII home front story of a young girl suddenly alone when her brother is called to service will make a good booktalk for my 6th graders. The ghost element and longing for real family and the box turtle who needs a real home too will be an easy sell. The Brooklyn bakery setting is a bonus although I will...more
Olivia Campbell does a wonderful job breathing life into a sweet, but stilted story. Most characters are never fully fleshed out and seem purposeful, rather than integral. The ghost, in particular, seems to only exist as a means of moving the storyline forward. Still, there is a certain wistful quality to the story that is definitely enlarged by Campbell's excellent narration. Some readers have lamented how slow the beginning is and, when listening, this is not a problem. Solid pacing, wholly ap...more
I really like Patricia Giff's writing, and once attended a session she gave shortly after winning a Newbery Honor for Pictures of Hollis Woods; she was delightful. I found this book a little more uneven than some of her previous works. I don't know that the ghost was all that necessary, and there were many times that I wanted Jayna to go ahead and tell Elise why she was there. There was a bit of suspense: would Rob come back? Would Jayna stay in Brooklyn or go back to Celine? I listened to this...more
There are many things I like about this book. Patricia Reilly Giff is one of my favorite children's authors. Her books are always a delight. The story takes place during a WWII, my favorite historical fiction time period. It is a quick read and it includes recipes.
Jayna is a strong and likable character. Giff does a good job of giving the reader a clear picture of Jayna even though it's a short, quick read. However, I did feel as though the "ghost" character was a bit lacking. I wanted to know m...more
Jayna is a strong and likable character. Giff does a good job of giving the reader a clear picture of Jayna even though it's a short, quick read. However, I did feel as though the "ghost" character was a bit lacking. I wanted to know m...more
I actually didn't realize this was more of a young adult book until it arrived. I've read a couple of other books by this author though and have enjoyed them.
This was a sweet story...Gingersnap and her brother were great characters. And Celine added that quirky but sweet character to balance it all out.
It was a bit too sappy and unbelievable. Like Gingersnap finding the lost recipe book; her brother & friends Dad both returning from the war pretty unscathed. Plus, how easily she found Elise...more
This was a sweet story...Gingersnap and her brother were great characters. And Celine added that quirky but sweet character to balance it all out.
It was a bit too sappy and unbelievable. Like Gingersnap finding the lost recipe book; her brother & friends Dad both returning from the war pretty unscathed. Plus, how easily she found Elise...more
It's 1945, and Jayna's brother Rob has gone off to war in the Pacific. Since he's her only living relative, she's staying with the landlady during his tour of duty. But a mysterious ghost and an old recipe book lead her on a quest that takes her away from upstate New York and into the heart of Brooklyn in a search for family.
It's a winning plot idea, a supernaturally-tinged take on the classic themes of books like Cynthia Voigt's Homecoming. However, the book suffers from a number of the same pr...more
It's a winning plot idea, a supernaturally-tinged take on the classic themes of books like Cynthia Voigt's Homecoming. However, the book suffers from a number of the same pr...more
Jayna's big brother Rob is her only family so when he joins the Navy, she is left in the care of their cranky landlady. She has a clue to her past, however, in the hand-written recipe book that belonged to her mother. She sets off to find the bakery whose name and address are in the book, hoping to learn more about her family. The answers are not what she expects, but she does make connections with people who love her and her brother when he comes home from the War in the Pacific. I enjoyed the...more
Gingersnap has a certain ethereal quality caused by the sometimes presence of a ghost friend, who drifts into her life giving the main character, Gingersnap sage advice. She discovers a picture with an address of her namesake "The Gingersnap Bakery" in her mother's cook book. This prompts Gingersnap,an orphan,to bravely face the challenge of making a journey alone, to seek an answer to her mysterious past. This story is beautifully told under the backdrop of World War II. A perfect historical fi...more
Patricia Reilly Giff is such a wonderful story teller. Her stories and characters transport you to a different time, one of which you feel a personal attachment to. This story is no different. I highly recommend this story, along with many others that Patricia Reilly Giff has written. She has earned the spot in where I will purchase a book simply because it is written by her! If you haven't read any of her books, try this one, along with Nory Ryan's Song, Pictures of Hollis Woods, Lily's Crossin...more
Although I enjoyed this book, (I have a thing for WWII fiction stories) and I loved the relationship between Jayna and her older brother Rob who was a cook on ship somewhere off the cost of Hawaii, I felt this story was forced. She's such a great writer and storyteller, but so much of this story feels rushed and like parts are missing. I enjoyed the soup aspect of the story, hope soup and good luck soup etc and I LOVED the bakery, but I felt everything was so rushed and there wasn't enough time...more
Jayna’s older brother Rob rescued her from foster care but now he is called to duty on a destroyer during World War II. Both brother and sister love to cook: Jayna’s specialty is soup. The two don’t have any other family in the world, so Rob leaves Jayna with their landlady who is always lecturing Jayna about manners. Right before he leaves, Rob tells Jayna about a recipe book he found that may have belonged to their grandmother. It contains an address for a bakery in Brooklyn. When Rob is liste...more
Comforting like a bowl of hot soup on a cold blustery day. This is the story of what REALLY makes a family.
In this story that takes place near the end of World War II, Jayna knows little of her family, except for her older brother Rob who takes care of her. Her parents have passed away. When Rob is called up for Navy duty, Jayna decides to go on a search for other family members due to the insistent voice of a ghost who tells her to. Will Jayna find her real family? What discoveries will she mak...more
In this story that takes place near the end of World War II, Jayna knows little of her family, except for her older brother Rob who takes care of her. Her parents have passed away. When Rob is called up for Navy duty, Jayna decides to go on a search for other family members due to the insistent voice of a ghost who tells her to. Will Jayna find her real family? What discoveries will she mak...more
Orphaned, twelve year old Jayna recently reconnected with her older brother Rob. Just as things were settling into a comfortable routine, Rob is called to serve in WW 2 on a ship. Giff creates a natural feeling setting with well drawn characters. The mention of ration cards and radio talks fits well within the time period. She has written a book that reads well and will be enjoyed by children and adults who enjoy kid lit. As an after thought, I loved the recipes she included at the end of severa...more
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PATRICIA REILLY GIFF is the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan...more
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