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331st out of 1,228 books
—
2,996 voters
The Book of Bright Ideas
by
Sandra Kring
Wisconsin, 1961. Evelyn “Button” Peters is nine the summer Winnalee and her fiery-spirited older sister, Freeda, blow into her small town–and from the moment she sees them, Button knows this will be a summer unlike any other.
Much to her mother’s dismay, Button is fascinated by the Malone sisters, especially Winnalee, a feisty scrap of a thing who carries around a shiny sil...more
Much to her mother’s dismay, Button is fascinated by the Malone sisters, especially Winnalee, a feisty scrap of a thing who carries around a shiny sil...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
May 30th 2006
by Delta
(first published January 1st 2006)
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Jul 12, 2007
Lesley
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who treasure their best friend's differences
Shelves:
lovesit
So cute! Reminder to treasure your own or your best friend's wild streak. Made me think of all the people who came in and out of my life for one reason or another. Great summer read! Liberation of souls from girls to grown woman. One summer in the early 60's, Evelyn's life got turned upside down by her new firecracker of a friend. Winnalee the firecracker, carries her "dead Ma" around in an urn...as creepy as that is, it never bothered me. She was such a lovable character! The "bright ideas" wer...more
Bright AND Beautiful
I realize it's an overused phrase, "I couldn't put it down," however, if any book deserves to be described in this manner, it's this charming and beautifully-written story called The Book of Bright Ideas. I picked it up because of the cover art, a little blond girl with a tutu and a tiara, and I liked the idea of reading about friendship. And that's exactly what this story is about. It's about a friendship not only between the nine-year-old narrator, "Button," and a little gi...more
I realize it's an overused phrase, "I couldn't put it down," however, if any book deserves to be described in this manner, it's this charming and beautifully-written story called The Book of Bright Ideas. I picked it up because of the cover art, a little blond girl with a tutu and a tiara, and I liked the idea of reading about friendship. And that's exactly what this story is about. It's about a friendship not only between the nine-year-old narrator, "Button," and a little gi...more
I really liked this book. It's profound but in a gentle way with fun and interesting and real relationships. It maintains an optimistic tone even though it deals with some sad topics. The story was a page-turner, but the people are what I remember; in my mind, they're a mess of broken crayons on top of a stark and tidy pencil drawing at the beginning of the book. By the end, the crayons are patched together in a Crayola box, and the drawing has bent edges and tinges of color in all the right pla...more
This book came highly recommended, and I must say I loved every minute of it. It was also a very quick read.
The story takes place in 1961 in Wisconsin where we meet nine year old Evelyn “Button” Peters , the narrator of the story. Button's summer is about to change her life forever when the Malone sisters show up in town. Freeda 25, is beautiful, headstrong, and uninhibited, her 10-year-old sister Winnalee, is bold, inquisitive and she walks around shoeless, carrying an urn holding her mother’s...more
I really liked this book. I've always enjoyed books that are written from a child's perspective - this one has a narrator who's voice is both realistic and innocent. It really brought me back to what its like to be a child; to feel so helpless, controlled by things you don't even understand. To be surrounded by adults who's complexities both intrigue you and scare you half to death.
Button is a scared, shy little girl who hardly speaks during the whole book, though she slowly begins to gain her c...more
Button is a scared, shy little girl who hardly speaks during the whole book, though she slowly begins to gain her c...more
I have really mixed feelings about this book. There are a lot of things I love about it and other things that really bothered me. I love the story told from the young girl's perspective... but I don't think the author quite hit the mark with that style and there were a lot of moments that it lost it's from-a-child's-perspective magic. I LOVED the interaction between the two young girls, and I loved the interaction between the girls and Aunt Verdella, who I thought was just a lovely character and...more
Thought this was going to be a book that I wasn't going to keep in my collection....about halfway through it, I changed my mind. I am going to let a couple of people borrow it because I think they will enjoy it. I loved it. Wasn't expecting it to end the way it did.
Bright Idea #96 : When you go on a trip to buy a special surprise for your best friend, sing "You Are My Sunshine" and think of all the big people and the little people who are your sunshine. Then look at the old houses you pass, and...more
Bright Idea #96 : When you go on a trip to buy a special surprise for your best friend, sing "You Are My Sunshine" and think of all the big people and the little people who are your sunshine. Then look at the old houses you pass, and...more
one of the best i've read in a long, long time. amazing. written for adults from the perspective of a child. very clear, honest opinions about life and trying to understand relationships between family, lovers, best friends. it is a must read. you will not be disappointed, except perhaps when you realize that, like all good things, the book comes to and end...and off you'll go in search of the next great one.
The story unfolds in the summer of 1961 in a rural farming community. It is told from the point of view of a 9 year old girl, an only child living with a control freak mother and indifferent father. Evelyn, called "Button" by everyone, thinks she is ugly and unloved. Her mother keeps Button's hair permed tight and her big ears stick out, making her self conscious.
Then into their lives whirls two people, Freeda, 24 and her little sister Winnalee Malone. Winnalee is a beautiful little 9 year old,...more
Then into their lives whirls two people, Freeda, 24 and her little sister Winnalee Malone. Winnalee is a beautiful little 9 year old,...more
I thought this book was alright, what bothered me was just how cliche it was. It was just these spunky, 'different' people that move into this town of boring people and spice things up. Antics ensue. You know the drift. I don't know, I wanted to be in love with it, but I just felt like I had read it all before. Even the too-cute name 'Button' got on my nerves a little.
The redeeming factor for me was that it was written from a 9 year old girl's perceptive & was kind of a journal of her growin...more
The redeeming factor for me was that it was written from a 9 year old girl's perceptive & was kind of a journal of her growin...more
I really enjoyed this novel which had a smattering of deep thoughts throughout a light, summer-read, chick-lit type of story. The story is that of Button, a 9 year old girl who lives a careful, measured life, until her new friend Winnalee moves into their small town with her wild big sister. I loved the characters, especially Aunt Verdella, who anyone would love to have as an aunt. What a delightful personality Kring has created!
This book is relatively clean except for the fact that there is qui...more
This book is relatively clean except for the fact that there is qui...more
The short review: I loved this book. I loved how these characters crept into my head and will be there long after I've finished the last page. I think this story will resonate wtih anyone who has overcome some kind of trauma in their life, and I think it will help anyone still struggling to put that trauma in the past. Button says it best: "It seems to me that after someone sweeps across your life like a red-hot flame, peeling back the shutters that sat over your heart and your mind and setting...more
I seem to rate a lot of books with five stars, and I'm going to try to be more objective in 2012. I did really like this book, though. During the first half or so I thought it might be a good YA choice, but once I got closer to the climax and resolution I did an about face -- this book is not for young teens, although older teens could probably pull appropriate responses out of it.
The characters are flawed but through the narration we learn why each of those imperfections came to be -- would tha...more
The characters are flawed but through the narration we learn why each of those imperfections came to be -- would tha...more
Sep 26, 2008
Toni
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Pauline
Recommended to Toni by:
my book club buddy
I loved this book. It was an easy read, and it had a very sweet story line. It's a great reminder of how important our friends are to us and how you definitely can't judge a book by it's cover. Those that we least expect to touch us can change our lives forever. I hope that Sandra King tells us about the girls again some day.
Jul 07, 2010
Gatlianne Gatlianne
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those who are in touch with their true selves - or want to be
I'd had this book for quite some time before actually reading. The cover drew me in with the sassy "Winnalee" character portrayed with her bright hair and eyes, pink cherubic lips and over the top demeanor and garb.
I read the book in a day and a half - I didn't want the story to end. Winnalee's sassiness was a joy to read and Button & her mother's "coming to self" filled my heart. Freeda's name fits her well, though ironically. Her "freedom" of self - is freeing to those around her but for h...more
I read the book in a day and a half - I didn't want the story to end. Winnalee's sassiness was a joy to read and Button & her mother's "coming to self" filled my heart. Freeda's name fits her well, though ironically. Her "freedom" of self - is freeing to those around her but for h...more
two families are about to have their lives turned upside down after a red headed "floozie" and her sister drive into the little town of dawsen, wisconsin, one spring day. each sentence in this story is spot on. with laugh out loud comedy, bittersweet situations, and plot twists that I never saw coming, you feel present in the story from beginning to end. I have read two of sandra krings books so far, and decided to read her newest one plus re-read her first ones. she is a state treasure. why do...more
The first time I read this book, I was thirteen, and believe it or not, it had a lot of meaning to me. I made my best friend read it, and we essentially became Button and Winnalee, even calling each other by those names. The book really opened my eyes to how different people are, and it helped to have a real life Winnalee to help me come out of my shell and become a better person. The ending of it even fit our lives perfectly, and I think because the story depicted my life so well at that age, I...more
This was a fun, quick read. I appreciated the fact that it didn't end 'perfectly'-- it made it more realistic. I enjoyed all the unique characters-- Button, Winnalee & Freeda, Aunt Verdella and Uncle Rudy.
At surface level Freeda seems somewhat of a floozy with a major potty mouth, but it was interesting to see that a lot of that came from being molested from her uncle. And at the heart, Freeda was just doing the best she could. She saw things spot on and said it like she saw it. Plus, she r...more
At surface level Freeda seems somewhat of a floozy with a major potty mouth, but it was interesting to see that a lot of that came from being molested from her uncle. And at the heart, Freeda was just doing the best she could. She saw things spot on and said it like she saw it. Plus, she r...more
I liked this book quite a bit. I loved how it made me reflect on the people that come into our lives and how they affect us. It's told from the point of view of a young girl, Evelyn. It covers some heavy topics but her tone remains innocent and positive. It begins with a woman, Freeda, coming into a small town with her little sister in tow. They are a unique, outspoken, wild pair. They have escaped their town for one reason or another and end up renting near the main character. Evelyn becomes be...more
This bittersweet novel tells the story of Button (a 10-year old massively repressed girl) and her family and what happens when far from repressed Freeda and little Winnalee (also 10) happen into town and become an integral part of their lives slowly changing the scared, and did I mention repressed, women around them..and a few of the men, too.
Winalee Malone is brought into town by her big sister Freeda and carrying an urn of her dead "Ma" with her wherever she goes. She also brings her Book of B...more
Winalee Malone is brought into town by her big sister Freeda and carrying an urn of her dead "Ma" with her wherever she goes. She also brings her Book of B...more
I was drawn to this book because of the cute little girl on the cover: a carefree little thing in a pink tutu, tiara, and a book strapped to her side. I would soon learn her name, Winnalee. She captured my heart instantly with a spirited, unusually wise demeanor despite a rough go at life in her nine short years. Winnalee and her sister roar into town and affect the lives of everyone they come into contact with, most notably nine year old Evelyn "Button". I found myself marveling at Winnalee's a...more
I borrowed this book (on Savannah's recommendation)from one of the students at the high school where I teach and it was excellent! One of the main characters - Winnalee - is a charming, effervescent 9 (?) year old who writes down 'bright ideas' that she has as she goes through life. When she meets her new best friend, they take turns writing their 'bright ideas.' One of the most interesting parts, is how their words of wisdom can apply to all of our days and lives. Winnalee and her older sister...more
This was a "Because it was on display" read. Literally. I walked into B&N last month and it was on the front table with a big picture of the author and i thought - why not?
It fits in with my preferred genre of late - chick lit. Another story of childhood friendship. The main character is keeping a journal of "Bright Ideas" and is determined to reach 100 ideas by the end of summer. The story tracks the young girls' friendship, but it was the sub story of the women in the book (moms, sisters,...more
It fits in with my preferred genre of late - chick lit. Another story of childhood friendship. The main character is keeping a journal of "Bright Ideas" and is determined to reach 100 ideas by the end of summer. The story tracks the young girls' friendship, but it was the sub story of the women in the book (moms, sisters,...more
I'm torn on this. Sometimes I really really enjoyed it and sometimes it seemed sort of to drag. There were some really unforeseen twists (even going into it with my mom saying there were twists).
I think I'd give it 3.5 stars. There were parts that really resonated with me as a mom who's trying to make sure her daughter doesn't grow up worrying about freckles and hairy legs.
At times the writing from the girl's perspective bothered me, since her vocabulary wasn't great and she'd say weird things....more
I think I'd give it 3.5 stars. There were parts that really resonated with me as a mom who's trying to make sure her daughter doesn't grow up worrying about freckles and hairy legs.
At times the writing from the girl's perspective bothered me, since her vocabulary wasn't great and she'd say weird things....more
3 1/2 stars. Told from the point-of-view of 9-year-old Eveyln "Button" in 1961 Wisconson. 10-year-old Winnalee and her older sister Freeda move into her small town, and they have an effect on everyone's lives--especially Button and her uptight mother. Winnalee is a feisty little girl who carries around an urn containing the ashes of her dead mother. Freeda is promiscuous and outspoken. I liked Kring's "Carry Me Home" more, but had the entire book read like the final 50 pages, I would have given...more
What fun! While not entirely without it's conflict (because we all know a good book has to have an element of conflict), this book is mostly light and I floated between the book and my own childhood memories of being young in Wisconsin. I remembered those storms that ripped branches off trees and left plants soggy and moldly. I remember feeling like everyone in town knew everyone. I loved the characters and the story was enough to keep me reading. A quick, fun read. It won't change your life, bu...more
I started and stopped reading this book a couple of times before I finally picked it up once and for all and read it. I thought this was a pretty decent read and one I would file as "beach read", you know, not heavy drama but something that will certainly engage and entertain. I think this book would make a fantastic movie--at least on Lifetime...
I gave this book to my cousin who suggested it to her book club. I think her book club reads serious books and they will all think I'm a superdumbblond...more
I gave this book to my cousin who suggested it to her book club. I think her book club reads serious books and they will all think I'm a superdumbblond...more
Everyone turns to look when redheaded Freeda and little Winnalee roll into town. Button is one of the first to spot them and is awed by their firey red hair. Aunt Verdella is like the Welcome Wagon and has them settled in before anyone can raise an objection.
In The Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra Kring, everyone takes notice of the little girl that walks around carrying an urn, but it's Button that becomes her best friend. Winnalee has a journal where she records life lessons so she will remember...more
In The Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra Kring, everyone takes notice of the little girl that walks around carrying an urn, but it's Button that becomes her best friend. Winnalee has a journal where she records life lessons so she will remember...more
Feb 24, 2012
Ginger
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone young or old!
Shelves:
chick-lit,
library-book,
young-adult,
favorites-2012,
favorites,
read-2012,
title-challenge-2012
This book was absoluetly amazing! My only regret is that I haven't read this before now. This is such a wonderfully written story about two 9 year old girls (Button & Winnalee) who become best friends. There were so many emotions I felt while reading this: anger, happiness, sadness....just about every emotion one can feel.
I felt sorry for Button because her parents treated her almost as if she were invisible. There were times when her mother (Jewel) was so mean, I wanted to knock the crap o...more
I felt sorry for Button because her parents treated her almost as if she were invisible. There were times when her mother (Jewel) was so mean, I wanted to knock the crap o...more
I came across the Book of Bright Ideas by accident a couple of years ago. I found it charming, funny, sweet and full of simple truths about life and love. Set in Wisconsin in the fifties or maybe the sixties, it is the story of many friendships, that of two very different nine-year-old girls and then, later, of the adults in their lives. Winnalee and her sister, Freeda, breeze into a small town and literally change the air around them, transforming their stuffy, damaged neighbors into different...more
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“For all those who longed to find a best friend and found it in themselves”
—
35 people liked it
“Bright Idea #91: When the weather's bad and your lights go out, have a pajama party. Eat till you feel sick, hula-hoop, paint your faces. Catch fireflies, and dance naked in the rain. If you do, then your bare butt will light up like a firefly after it's been let out of a jar.”
—
22 people liked it
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May 19, 2010 02:23pm
May 19, 2010 03:28pm