Maybe you won’t rock a cradle, Muriel. Some women seem to prefer to rock the boat. Eighteen-year-old Muriel Jorgensen l...
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Feb 09, 2011
Katie
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I had never read anything by Helen Frost before I requested this book on inter-library loan from my library system, but I knew she wrote novels in verse and that was the main reason I chose to read this book to begin with. And having finished Crossing Stones, the story of what happens to the children of two neighboring Michigan families during 1917, when World War I and women's suffrage are both at the political forefront, I can say that the true strength of this book is the poetry.
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Dec 12, 2011
Vicki
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Crossing Stones is about two families that live across a stream from each other where the families cross on stepping stones in the river to visit each other. The children grow up together and the families are very close. It is set during World War I and the son in one family enlists and the sixteen-year-old son in the other family lies about his age and also enlists. The protagonist, Muriel, is a very opinionated young woman, who likes to express herself. She ends up getting involved with he
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Nov 20, 2011
Staci
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I love the poerty novel writing style! I think it is such an interesting way to tell a story and it keeps the reader engaged because it changes and isn't always stagnant. I really enjoyed this story and how the perspectives of each character was told ad represented. I truly loved this book and the heartfelt story it told.
This book was about two families and how the war affected them in different, but equally hard ways. It is told by three main characters Ollie, Muriel and Emma. They are eac More...
This book was about two families and how the war affected them in different, but equally hard ways. It is told by three main characters Ollie, Muriel and Emma. They are eac More...
Nov 17, 2011
Summary: Muriel and her family live at the time of WW1. Almost every boy she knows is going to war. She has very big opinions for a young girl of that time. She is against any war that would require those she loves to die. She has adopted the philosophies of her aunt who is a picketer for women's rights. Her brother Ollie has different opinions about the war. He doesn't want to be left out. He wants to fight just like his best friend Frank. So he sneaks away to the war just to see that it is not
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Oct 26, 2011
Brittany
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Crossing Stones is a gorgeous book, written in a poem format. The poems alternate between the characters. The main character, Muriel Jorgensen, is a eighteen year old girl growing up amidst the first world war and women's suffrage. Her family (her father, mother, brother, younger sister)lives right across from another family across the stream. They are very close friends- they see each other nearly every day. Everyone expects Muriel to marry Frank, the oldest son, but she doesn't much think of
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May 12, 2011
Kelly
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I loved loved loved this book- the first time I've made it through a novel in verse. Beautiful writing, a full plot and moving characters. I don't know how it could have everything I love plus beautifully constructed poems, some visually suggesting stones, some suggesting water, but it did.
You know how sometimes two families will grow so close that it's almost a foregone conclusion that the children will marry? I admit I've got at one son's wife picked out. That's how it was between More...
You know how sometimes two families will grow so close that it's almost a foregone conclusion that the children will marry? I admit I've got at one son's wife picked out. That's how it was between More...
Apr 18, 2011
akibird
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Crossing Stones by Helen Frost (2009)
Novel in Verse, 178 pages
18-year-old Muriel Jorgensen is an opinionated young woman who begins to question the risks of war and the inequality of women. The Jorgensen’s live across from the Norman’s, and their properties are divided by Crabapple Creek, but the line is blurred as all the families use the creek’s crossing stones to see each other every day. Both mothers hope their children will marry within the families: Muriel and Frank Norman, O More...
Novel in Verse, 178 pages
18-year-old Muriel Jorgensen is an opinionated young woman who begins to question the risks of war and the inequality of women. The Jorgensen’s live across from the Norman’s, and their properties are divided by Crabapple Creek, but the line is blurred as all the families use the creek’s crossing stones to see each other every day. Both mothers hope their children will marry within the families: Muriel and Frank Norman, O More...
Nov 17, 2010
Margaret H.
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In general, I am not a huge fan of poetry, but I love the immediacy granted by a truly great novel in verse—and Crossing Stones is exactly that. From Muriel’s first poem, musing rebelliously on her stuffy teacher’s command that she “straighten out her mind” I was hooked, so much so that I plunked down $18 for a hardcover book. It did not disappoint. Muriel’s fiery intelligence is thrilling and her observations about what people expect of her, as a woman, have more relevance to the present day th
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Aug 27, 2010
Debbie
rated it:
Seriously? Are you KIDDING me?
This was my reaction to the Notes on the Form at the end of this book. [title:Crossing Stones] is written in verse. And not just any verse. Verse in specific shapes with an impressive rhyme scheme. How did Helen Frost do this? She's amazing.
But even before I knew this, it was a good book. It takes place in rural Michigan during WWI, which in itself is unusual. I've read many novels set in America during WWII, but not many during WWI. I realize, o More...
This was my reaction to the Notes on the Form at the end of this book. [title:Crossing Stones] is written in verse. And not just any verse. Verse in specific shapes with an impressive rhyme scheme. How did Helen Frost do this? She's amazing.
But even before I knew this, it was a good book. It takes place in rural Michigan during WWI, which in itself is unusual. I've read many novels set in America during WWII, but not many during WWI. I realize, o More...
May 30, 2010
Cornmaven
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There's quite a lot going on with this book, and that is its beauty. It's a WWI historical fiction novel, of which there really are few, so that is good. It's also a novel in verse, and the verse has a particular, and meaningful, form. Another plus, because you can integrate it into Language Arts classes if need be.
It's a relationship novel, and a novel about the hell of war, with glimpses of PTSD. That alone might help kids understand what is happening to our vets returning from More...
It's a relationship novel, and a novel about the hell of war, with glimpses of PTSD. That alone might help kids understand what is happening to our vets returning from More...
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Apr 28, 2010
Jean
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Helen Frost has the remarkable ability to combine excellence in technique with powerful storytelling. Each of her verse novels depict time and place with just a few words which is something I wish many novelists who write for adults would learn. She is able to develop her characters through short, poetic vignettes which describe their feelings and the circumstances of their lives.
"Crossing Stones" is told from the point of view of four friends who have grown into young adulth More...
"Crossing Stones" is told from the point of view of four friends who have grown into young adulth More...
Jul 19, 2010
Jacki
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When I began this book, I thought, "Oh, no, not more historical fiction! Oh, no, not another novel in verse!" I had found myself at a point of disinterest with the latter and disgust with the former.
I feel much better now.
This beautiful book tells the story of two closely bonded neighboring families who are torn apart by the horrors of World War I and the perceived conflict between patriotism and the women's suffrage movement. You won't find teen angst here, no More...
I feel much better now.
This beautiful book tells the story of two closely bonded neighboring families who are torn apart by the horrors of World War I and the perceived conflict between patriotism and the women's suffrage movement. You won't find teen angst here, no More...
Feb 28, 2010
Josiah
rated it: 
Crossing Stones is a novel told in lovely, free-flowing verse, about the lives of four American teenagers: Muriel, Ollie, Emma and Frank, as they interact with each other and the people surrounding them during the turbulent times of World War I in our country. Not only were we dealing with a war that ultimately would claim an estimated thirty-seven million lives worldwide, but our country was filled with internal strife as the issue of women's suffrage came to a volatile head and the U.S. gov
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Jan 09, 2010
Jeanette
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This book pretty much blew me away. I will admit I am not a huge fan of novels told in verse, or at least I wasn't until I started reading books by Helen Frost. Amazing.
First, the story. Crossing Stones is set in rural Michigan in 1917 and touches on all the major issues of the day. War, the suffrage movement and the flu epidemic. The story is told through the 4 distinct voices of Ollie, Muriel,Frank and Emma, four young people faced with all the unpleasant realities of war and social More...
First, the story. Crossing Stones is set in rural Michigan in 1917 and touches on all the major issues of the day. War, the suffrage movement and the flu epidemic. The story is told through the 4 distinct voices of Ollie, Muriel,Frank and Emma, four young people faced with all the unpleasant realities of war and social More...
Jun 05, 2010
Sandi
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I have never read a lousy Helen Frost novel. Her work is beautiful. She has a way of weaving history among humanity in such a way that the date of the subject matters little because the story is so universal. She understands that which makes us feel, connect, matter as people. Her words are poetic and she gives great care to the form of her story.
This novel is set in 1917, an interesting time in U.S. history when things were changinfg rapidly (probably as radical and changing as More...
This novel is set in 1917, an interesting time in U.S. history when things were changinfg rapidly (probably as radical and changing as More...
Jan 15, 2010
Afton
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A truly heartbreaking and beautiful tale, written in verse, about a bright, questioning young woman at the onset of World War I. Her inner struggle with the expectations of women of the day was relatable and she was clearly a person of integrity. I liked her very much. The author had me up until the last sentence of the epilogue which stuck in my craw. Maybe I read too much into it, (and I don't want to give anything away by reproducing the sentence here), but it shattered my idea of what wo
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Oct 25, 2011
Carol
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Two families live on opposite sides of Crabapple Creek. The parents are great friends as are the teen-age children of both families. Everyone dotes on little seven-year-old Grace. It is spring of 1917 and eighteen-year-old Muriel is struggling more than her peers with the idea of the war raging in Europe as well as the fact that women aren't considered equal to men. Though she is quite opinionated, Muriel is fairly content with life until the realities of war strike close to home. A tender and t
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Oct 16, 2011
Ben
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This book has is unique in how it tells the story of a girl named Muriel and her experience during World War I. She lives in America on a farm. She falls in love slightly with a man named Frank who goes off to war. Because of franks decision to go to war Muriel's brother Ollie also decides to sneak into the war, even though he is under aged. Ollie comes back from war after being in the battle field for a total of three weeks. He loses his arm in battle. Frank never makes it back home. Muriel is
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Oct 26, 2011
Clint
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Crossing Stones tells the stories of four young adults growing up in Michigan during World War I. Muriel, a young woman, her brother Ollie, and family friends Frank and Emma are forced to face the challenges of living in a country at war. These young adults are forced at a young age to deal with death, serious illness, and for Muriel the difficulties, opportunities, and decisions women faced during the women's suffrage movement.
I was not very excited to read this book when i saw that it was More...
I was not very excited to read this book when i saw that it was More...
Feb 17, 2010
Pam
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As a verse novel, Crossing Stones tells the coming-of-age story of 4 teenagers who live on adjacent farms connected by crossing stones in a river. Narrated by 3 of the 4 teenagers, Muriel, her brother Ollie, and her best friend Emma, the story is about how WWI and the outside world change these 16 and 18 year olds. Frank, Emma's brother, is the first to leave when he joins the army and is sent to France. During these tumultuous times, Ollie and Muriel's aunt becomes involved in the suffraget
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Oct 25, 2009
Terri
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"Crossing Stones" by Helen Frost is getting starred reviews all over the place - and it deserves every one of them! This historical novel-in-verse is a fast, interesting, beautifully crafted piece.
The story is set in Michigan (and some of the time in Washington D.C. and abroad) beginning in 1917 and centers around WWI, the suffragist movement, and the influenza outbreak of 1918 (given N1H1, this is very timely - 20 to 40 million died as a result). I found the book very info More...
The story is set in Michigan (and some of the time in Washington D.C. and abroad) beginning in 1917 and centers around WWI, the suffragist movement, and the influenza outbreak of 1918 (given N1H1, this is very timely - 20 to 40 million died as a result). I found the book very info More...
Aug 25, 2011
Kay
rated it:
Four teens have grown up together on both sides of Crabapple Creek, connected like the stones that cross the water. Now World War I has come close to home and their worlds will never be the same.
■Muriel is outspoken about the war (she thinks it’s senseless) and women’s rights (why shouldn’t women discuss politices and vote in elections). Her friends and family wish she would keep quiet and stay out of trouble.
■Her neighbor, Frank, enlists to fight in the war, but she is not quite r More...
■Muriel is outspoken about the war (she thinks it’s senseless) and women’s rights (why shouldn’t women discuss politices and vote in elections). Her friends and family wish she would keep quiet and stay out of trouble.
■Her neighbor, Frank, enlists to fight in the war, but she is not quite r More...
Feb 28, 2011
Kathryn
rated it:
I must confess that when I first picked this book up, I was slightly skeptical, again, probably because of the cover. I have NEVER seen a book like this one before. It is written in poetic, formal verse, and shaped in weird structures. Despite my concern, however, after a few pages, I was hooked, and two hours later, I was done and amazed by what I had just consumed! Helen Frost is absolutely brilliant. Frost has engaged more than just one sense in this novel. It is a multi-sensual experience, f
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Aug 07, 2011
Sheri
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This is my 2nd book with this author - I had listened to Diamond Willow and really liked that story and how the book is written in verse. I was very happy I ventured on to this story - again, written in verse, each page representing one of three main characters and the shapes of the poems and rhyming that she achieves is amazing - it must have taken so long to get each page just right. I am just blown away by the fact that you can convey so much setting, character development, themes and other
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Oct 27, 2010
Cathy
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Helen Frost's story about two immigrant farm families is written in verse with each character telling their story. Muriel is the main character, a girl who disagrees with her teacher in school about the US joining WWI and the draft. The other characters are Emma, her friend, Ollie her brother who joins up though only 16, Frank who is Emma's brother and is drafted. Over a period of nine months their lives are upended as Frank and Ollie are sent to fight the Germans, Muriel leaves school when
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Oct 15, 2011
Katie
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Crossing Stones is the story of four teenageers, Muriel, Ollie, Emma, and Frank, from Michigan and how their lives are affected by World War II. Muriel is headstrong and opinionated. Her brother Ollie is kind and likes Emma. Emma is also kind and is not as opinionated as Muriel. She likes Ollie. Frank is Emma's brother and enlisted before the book begins. The book is set up as a series of poems.
Once I started Crossing Stones, I couldn't put it down. The set up is interesting and uniq More...
Once I started Crossing Stones, I couldn't put it down. The set up is interesting and uniq More...
Jan 24, 2010
Suzanne
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Wow. The rave reviews from book group convinced me to read this, even though I should probably be moving onto next month's books. It's incredible - not just powerful and well written, but the kind of writing that sucks you in and won't let you go. I thought I'd just read a few pages last night in bed and decide whether to read any more - instead I stayed up past 11:00 reading, then finished it in the morning over coffee before making breakfast.
It's told in poetry (not my favorite sty More...
It's told in poetry (not my favorite sty More...
Jul 09, 2010
Sara
rated it:
What talent Helen Frost has.
CROSSING STONES is a touching story of the complexities in the life of 18-year-old Muriel, coming of age at the onset of WWI. Muriel struggles with how her pacifist and feminist ideas fit into a world at war that still values traditional roles. These larger issues come home for Muriel in her relationship with Frank, a young man from the "family next door" who goes off to fight in Europe.
Even though I don't wholly share Muriel's vi More...
CROSSING STONES is a touching story of the complexities in the life of 18-year-old Muriel, coming of age at the onset of WWI. Muriel struggles with how her pacifist and feminist ideas fit into a world at war that still values traditional roles. These larger issues come home for Muriel in her relationship with Frank, a young man from the "family next door" who goes off to fight in Europe.
Even though I don't wholly share Muriel's vi More...
Jun 07, 2010
Becca Lee
rated it:
Typically free verse stories are hard for me to enjoy, but I really enjoyed the story, and found myself not even noticing the free verse format as I went along. I enjoyed the story’s three narrators different view on life, war and love. There was a lot going on it these 175 pages, due to its shortness (keeping in mind that with free verse pages are not full of text) there was not much time to dawdle with the story. It kept you moving and kept your attention. It is also a very interesting form of
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Jan 29, 2011
Courtney
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I really love books written in verse and in so many ways this one is a stunner--and set in such an important time period for our nation (this would make such an incredible book group read). The one thing that I didn't care for (and really I think there was only one thing) was the idea running in between a few lines that women either "rock the cradle" or "rock the boat;" and that women who choose to rock the cradle are choosing (either by choice or nature) a monotonous life th
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