When push comes to shove, two Kentucky girls find strength in each other.
Ivy June Mosely and Catherine Combs, two girls from differe... read full description
Ivy June Mosely and Catherine Combs, two girls from differe... read full description
reviews
Mar 04, 2009
Karlan
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Thanks to a two week exchange program between a private girls' school in Lexington and a public school in rural KY, two seventh grade girls get to see what life is like for others. The girls keep journals, become friends and help each other when disasters occur. The story is moving and the characters interesting.
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Mar 13, 2009
Eva
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This tale of two 7th-grade Kentucky girls is a bit like the city mouse and the country mouse. The country mouse, Ivy June, comes from one of the poorest parts of Kentucky, mountainous Thunder Creek. The city mouse, Catherine, lives in a big home in Lexington. In an exchange program, Ivy June stays for two weeks at Catherine’s house and then Catherine stays with Ivy June for two weeks.
The idea is not just to see how the other half lives but to puncture stereotypes (on both More...
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Nov 06, 2011
Michelle
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As a children's and Teens' Librarian, I'm often asked for "clean" teen books. It's usually by parents (funny that!) of 12-14 year old girls, whose parents don't think they are ready emotionally for some of the content of teenage books. I'm not in total agreement with their values, but I do try and read books that will fit into this category, as good customer service :)
And I would be happy to recommend this, not just because there's no sex or swearing, but because it's a g More...
And I would be happy to recommend this, not just because there's no sex or swearing, but because it's a g More...
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Jun 04, 2011
Lisa
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Faith, Hope, and Ivy June is the story of two girls from very different backgrounds who participate in a home exchange program. Ivy June is from the Appalachian mountains in Thunder Creek, Kenucky. The area is rural and fairly poor. Many of the residents work in the coal mine or the local factory. Money is tight. She does not have a phone in her house, nor an indoor bathroom. She went to live with her grandparents when her parents' house no longer had enough room for everyone to fit comfort
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Apr 11, 2011
Eva
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Ivy June is a seventh-grader in Hazard Creek, Kentucky. She lives with her grandparents because her parent's home is too small for their growing family. Her great-grandmother has just turned 100 and has a letter from the president. As she is blind, Ivy June reads it over to her every day after school. Her grandfather works in the coal mine, her father works odd jobs when he can find them. She doesn't consider her life very different from other kid in Hazard Creek.
Several miles awa More...
Several miles awa More...
Feb 16, 2011
Andy
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Although Naylor creates a strong voice and vivid portrait of life in a remote Kentucky mining town, this book felt contrived. Two seventh grade girls participate in an exchange program. Ivy June is an outspoken girl from a remote mountain holler with no telephones or plumbing. Since her parent’s house is overcrowded with siblings, she lives “up the way” with her grandparents. Catherine, on the other hand, lives an upper middle class life in the city of Lexington and attends an all girl priva
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Sep 27, 2010
Jbachelder
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Maine Student Book Award Nominee, 2010-2011. Initially I wasn't very interested in the premise of this book: two girls who live in Kentucky, one from a very poor coal-mining town and the other from a prosperous city family, embark on an exchange program. But Naylor "nails" these two girls -- poor Ivy June and city girl Catherine -- and the stereotypes and prejudices that exist between the classes. First Ivy June visits Lexington and experiences a life so different from her own -- in
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Nov 11, 2009
Sandra
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Well, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor has done it again. She writes stories that pull you right in and make you feel as if you are one of the characters. One of the first things I liked about this book was the teacher. She had the students brainstorming ideas about the unknown. This is the story of two girls from two totally different backgrounds. They will each spend two weeks in each other’s home. Ivy June comes from the poor, coal mining section of Kentucky while Catherine comes from a wealthie
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Aug 22, 2009
Jenny
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Ivy June and Catherine are seventh graders who are in exchange program through their schools.
Both Ivy June and Catherine are from totally different backgrounds yet have so many things in common.
I loved this book, it was one that I could not put dowm and felt I was actually living in the story. Both girls became so intwined in their host families that you could feel them actually feeling at home in their host communities, yet they were glad to go "home" to their own. More...
Both Ivy June and Catherine are from totally different backgrounds yet have so many things in common.
I loved this book, it was one that I could not put dowm and felt I was actually living in the story. Both girls became so intwined in their host families that you could feel them actually feeling at home in their host communities, yet they were glad to go "home" to their own. More...
Jul 19, 2009
GirlwiththeBraids
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In this small town in Kentucky, the folks have learned to despise the high class people a few towns over. They have new cars that run smoothly, constant job listings, and showers. When a new exchange program is introduced to the seventh grade classes of each town, only a few are willing to participate. The hardworking, good little Christian girl is chosen to visit a shy, perhaps spoiled, daughter of a rich newspaper editor and vise versa. Each of the girls make a new friend but how can they stay
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Feb 19, 2011
Jennifer
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Ivy June and Catherine are both 7th grade girls who live in Kentucky. Ivy June lives in the rural, mountainous region of southeastern KY, and Catherine lives in Lexington. Both girls are part of a student exchange program – Ivy June spends two weeks living with Catherine and her upper-middle class family in Lexington, and then Catherine spends two weeks living with Ivy June and her family in coal country. Their lives are very different: Ivy June’s family has an outhouse while Catherine’s house h
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Jan 28, 2012
Brett
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Both engrossing & thought-provoking, as well as a loving portrait of a beautiful & fascinating place. Twelve-year-old Ivy June Mosley is chosen to participate in her school's first-ever exchange program. She will be spending two weeks with fellow seventh-grader Catherine Combs & her family, at their home in Lexington, where she will attend school & be taken on various field trips to experience what the city has to offer. Later, Catherine will join Ivy June in the house she shares with her grandp
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Oct 03, 2009
Kris
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A very entertaining read. My guess is that it's strong & the Newbery Committee will read it & discuss it, but it probably won't win. Other strong competition. Characterization of the 2 main characters, Ivy June and Catherine, is very strong--both real girls who come from different backgrounds & become friends. Also very well done is tension between girls at the home schools & the visitors--some jealousy, some competitiveness. But both girls are good & decent, and the stressors they deal wit
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Jan 24, 2012
Megan
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I absolutely loved this book! I know I would haveloved it just as much as a 5th or 6th grader. Ivy. June Moseley is a 7th grader at Thunder Creek school in rural, coal-mining Kentucky. Katherine Combs is a 7th grader at Buckner Academy for Girls in Lexington Kentucky. The girls participate in the first ever school exchange program and must keep a journal about their experiences. Ivy June visits Katherine first and learns of the many amenities of the upper-middle class. Katherine visits Ivy
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Jun 16, 2010
Judy
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Great book. Loved the characters.
p 288 ©2009, realistic fiction, parents choice award
friendship, family values, understanding self,
From Story Snoops:
Seventh grade Kentucky girls, Ivy June and Catherine, participate in a student exchange program, taking turns living together with each other's family. While each home is as different as night and day, the girls soon realize that it's the important things in life that they share in common, and that you can't judge a More...
p 288 ©2009, realistic fiction, parents choice award
friendship, family values, understanding self,
From Story Snoops:
Seventh grade Kentucky girls, Ivy June and Catherine, participate in a student exchange program, taking turns living together with each other's family. While each home is as different as night and day, the girls soon realize that it's the important things in life that they share in common, and that you can't judge a More...
Aug 22, 2011
Kristi
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Listened to this one and really enjoyed the story line. So much can be learned by trading spaces. A lot happened to these girls in a short window of time, but the author craftily alludes to that by having the girls talk about how unlikely it is for two tragedies to befall these families in one week's time, and using phrases such as "truth is stranger than fiction." That said, I do think the story might be stronger if the two dramas were whittled down to one. Otherwise, I think the
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Jul 22, 2009
Susan P
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I really liked this book a lot. It's interesting to see the contrasts between the two main characters and their lives. Seventh graders Ivy June and Catherine both participate in a student exchange program via their schools. For two weeks, Ivy June goes to stay with Catherine's family in Lexington, and attends school with her (an exclusive private one where the girls wear uniforms). Then Catherine comes to "the holler" for two weeks where Ivy June's family has no telephone or indoor
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Feb 14, 2010
Jennifer
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Country mouse, city mouse - a time honored plot. In alternating diaries, along with a central narrative, the story of an exchange program with two seventh grade girls in Kentucky unfolds. Ivy June, who lives in the mountains first stays with Catherine in Lexington and goes with her to private school. Then the process reverses. Catherine goes to Ivy June's school and must cope with things like an outhouse and no cell phone. The girls journals are realistic, describing the differences of their liv
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Nov 05, 2009
Ryann
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Ivy June Mosley and Catherine Combs both live in Kentucky, but they live in two different worlds. Ivy June lives with outside a small coal mining town while Catherine lives in Lexington and goes to a private girls school. When the girls are chosen to be exchange students, they get to spend two weeks at each other's home learning about their differences, their similarities, and ultimately themselves.
This story was touching and somewhat thought provoking. It was sometimes easy to forge More...
This story was touching and somewhat thought provoking. It was sometimes easy to forge More...
Aug 03, 2009
carissa
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Recommended Ages: 5th - 8th grade
Ivy June Mosely and Catherine Combs, two girls from different parts of Kentucky, are participating in the first seventh-grade student exchange program between their schools. The girls will stay at each other’s homes, attend school together, and record their experience in their journals. Catherine and her family have a beautiful home with plenty of space. Since Ivy June’s house is crowded, she lives with her grandparents. Her Pappaw works in the coal m More...
Ivy June Mosely and Catherine Combs, two girls from different parts of Kentucky, are participating in the first seventh-grade student exchange program between their schools. The girls will stay at each other’s homes, attend school together, and record their experience in their journals. Catherine and her family have a beautiful home with plenty of space. Since Ivy June’s house is crowded, she lives with her grandparents. Her Pappaw works in the coal m More...
Jan 08, 2011
Jackie
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Faith, Hope, and Ivy June is a heart-tugging, sentimental story of two unlikely friends, Catherine from Lexington, Kentucky and Ivy June a couple of hours away in Thunder Creek, Kentucky. The girls are the first participants in the student exchange program between their two schools...the purpose of which is to become a part of another's life, and decide how different or similar it is. Ivy June initially travels to Lexington and is not fully prepared for the big house, indoor bathrooms, computers
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Jan 01, 2010
Becky
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Living outside Lexington, but having not had much encounter with the Appalachian mountain area of my state, I was fascinated in this contrast and comparison of Ivy June and Catherine. I thought the voices of both characters were realistic for that age girl, and loved the honest journal aspect of the text. I love the theme of understanding, acceptance, and that we are all more similar than we are different. Would that there be many ambassador programs like this among people living in different ge
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Dec 27, 2011
Kate
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Just as appealing as the more heavily marketed upper-elementary/middle school girl protagonist books, but with more interesting lessons about judging others based on their backgrounds. Catherine, a modern city girl, and Ivy June, from Appalachia, participate in an exchange program and get to know each other with all the bumps of adolescent friendship and some bigger family & community issues as well. Pleasantly readable and realistic, without too much filler. I wish I could judge the realism
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Nov 24, 2009
Claire
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Set in Kentucky, a Lexington girls school wants to broaden the horizons of their girls and concoct an exchange program. They will host a girl from thunder Creek a remote mining village at their school for two weeks and then one of their girls will go to Thunder Creek.
Ivy June is selected to be the ambassador for Thunder Creek. Showing confidence and bravery she goes to the big city where many of her neighbors have never been and holds her own at school and with the family. Catherine who h More...
Ivy June is selected to be the ambassador for Thunder Creek. Showing confidence and bravery she goes to the big city where many of her neighbors have never been and holds her own at school and with the family. Catherine who h More...
Jan 12, 2011
Emily
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I'll be honest - I wanted to hate this book. I'm originally from Eastern KY and I lived in Lexington for 10 years. Most media portrayals of those places simply do not do either one justice. That said, this book accomplishes the task of portraying both places in an equitable manner. The characters are seemingly real girls with real feelings and problems and this novel does not sink simply to the depths of the "City Mouse, Country Mouse" stereotype that I was expecting. However, I do bel
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Jan 04, 2010
Brenda
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Ivy June Mosley lives with her family in a remote area of the Appalachian Mountains but wonders what life would be like in the life outside of the one she knows. She gets her chance when she is picked for a student-exchange student with Catherine Combs. Catherine has only known life in a rich suburban area and would like the challenge of living in a different place. For two weeks, both girls discover how the other one lives and along the way, discover things about themselves they never knew e
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Mar 10, 2010
Lauren
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i am reading faith hhope and ivy june and it is really good. this book is about a girl that is in a student exchange program and she has given up her spring break well as thry call it mud vacation to go to a differant part of kentuckey as they say the rich part to stay with a girl named catherine combs. both girls have never even met each other. i am at the part twhere ivy june has already gotten home from catherines and is talking to her grandmother about the oart of kentucky that she visited.
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Jan 13, 2010
Linnea
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Maybe more like 3.5. Interesting story of two girls in an exchange program between wealthy private school in Lexington, KY and poor mountain community. Excellent depiction of characters, although the characters from the mountains were more alive and interesting than those in the city. I surprised myself by weeping all through the ending chapters. I love Pawpaw's lesson that every time you learn to do something new you increase your confidence. Here it is, p. 82 in Ivy June Mosley's own word
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Mar 16, 2011
Victoria
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Faith, Hope, and Ivy June is a great book filled with action, adventure, romance, fiction, realistic fiction, and a touch of sadness twisted all into one relaxed, simple and emotional book. This book is about two girls that are chosen for an exchange program, where they live at each others homes, go to school together, and write down their experiences in their journals. But both girls must face the mystery and terror about what might happen to their loved ones.
During the part when Ivy June More...
During the part when Ivy June More...
Oct 02, 2009
Jennifer
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Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
FAITH, HOPE, AND IVY JUNE is about two girls from totally different places and backgrounds who participate in a student exchange program. Although both girls are from Kentucky, one is from the bustling city of Lexington and the other is from the mountains.
Ivy June is excited about her upcoming trip to spend two weeks with Catherine in Lexington, Kentucky. The exchange program was organized by their More...
FAITH, HOPE, AND IVY JUNE is about two girls from totally different places and backgrounds who participate in a student exchange program. Although both girls are from Kentucky, one is from the bustling city of Lexington and the other is from the mountains.
Ivy June is excited about her upcoming trip to spend two weeks with Catherine in Lexington, Kentucky. The exchange program was organized by their More...
