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123rd out of 127 books
—
298 voters
Northward to the Moon (My One Hundred Adventures #2)
In this beautiful follow-up to the highly acclaimed My One Hundred Adventures, Jane and her family have moved to Canada . . . but not for long. When her stepfather, Ned, is fired from his job as a high school French teacher (seems he doesn’t speak French), the family packs up and Jane embarks on a series of new adventures. At first, she imagines her family as a gang of out...more
Hardcover, 244 pages
Published
February 23rd 2010
by Schwartz & Wade
(first published January 1st 2010)
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Jane Lives in Saskatchewan, Canada with her stepfather Ned, her mom , her sister and her two little brothers. If you look at a map, Saskatchewan is above Montana…right in the middle of land. Jane used to live in a beach house in Massachusetts, now she’s stuck in a crummy little house in the middle of the never-ending prairie. It’s dry and it doesn’t feel at all like home.
After living in Canada for a year Ned gets fired from his job teaching French at the local high school, the job that brought t...more
After living in Canada for a year Ned gets fired from his job teaching French at the local high school, the job that brought t...more
Reviewed by Rachel Seigel
Picking up one year after My One Hundred Adventures, author Polly Horvath revisits Jane Fielding and her family, now living in Saskatchewan, where her stepfather Ned is teaching French. When Ned gets fired from his job (for not actually knowing French), Jane’s imagination runs wild with all of the possibilities for adventure. She also senses Ned’s restlessness and sees him as a kindred spirit. The family leaves Saskatchewan and sets off on a quest that takes them from a...more
Picking up one year after My One Hundred Adventures, author Polly Horvath revisits Jane Fielding and her family, now living in Saskatchewan, where her stepfather Ned is teaching French. When Ned gets fired from his job (for not actually knowing French), Jane’s imagination runs wild with all of the possibilities for adventure. She also senses Ned’s restlessness and sees him as a kindred spirit. The family leaves Saskatchewan and sets off on a quest that takes them from a...more
"Sometimes it is good to have things happen to you outside of your control. There are parts of yourself you would never discover otherwise."
—Northward to the Moon, PP. 53-54
That quote encapsulates much of what Northward to the Moon is about. The plot is a series of almost random events coming together to make up the childhood of Jane and her three siblings, as life takes them on the kind of wild ride that could only happen in a story.
After the ending of My One Hundred Adventures, to which th...more
—Northward to the Moon, PP. 53-54
That quote encapsulates much of what Northward to the Moon is about. The plot is a series of almost random events coming together to make up the childhood of Jane and her three siblings, as life takes them on the kind of wild ride that could only happen in a story.
After the ending of My One Hundred Adventures, to which th...more
This is the sequel to My One Hundred Adventures, which was one of my favorite books of 2008. Jane is now 13 years old or so, and is at the tail-end of a so-so year up in Canada, where her step-dad Ned has just been fired from his job as a French teacher (it took the school almost an entire school year to figure out that Ned can't speak any French) and in general, no one is very happy.
Therefore, it's excellent timing when Ned gets a phone call from some folks he knew for a brief time 20 years ago...more
Therefore, it's excellent timing when Ned gets a phone call from some folks he knew for a brief time 20 years ago...more
Maybe three and a half, even, just for the lovely, lovely description.
This book continues the story of Jane (My One Hundred Adventures) and her family. First they're in Canada and then they head south. Why? You'll have to read to find out.
Some Favorite Quotes
"Let me tell you something, Jane, everyone is responsible for his own education. You can't teach anyone who doesn't want to learn and you can't stop a person who does." (14)
"I regard it as being like reading a good fantasy novel without havi...more
This book continues the story of Jane (My One Hundred Adventures) and her family. First they're in Canada and then they head south. Why? You'll have to read to find out.
Some Favorite Quotes
"Let me tell you something, Jane, everyone is responsible for his own education. You can't teach anyone who doesn't want to learn and you can't stop a person who does." (14)
"I regard it as being like reading a good fantasy novel without havi...more
Polly Horvath wrote Northward to the Moon and I must say I was disappointed. I loved her other books Everything on a Waffle and The Trolls so I wanted to enjoy this one but it just didn't happen for me. I expected more from a previous Newbery winner. In fact this is one of those books where when I was done I wondered "what was all that about?" And it makes me wonder if I'm just not smart enough to "get it." This book just rubbed me the wrong way especially the very end. Nothing more annoying the...more
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There's something about Horvath's more dramatic books that I just love. Quirky, observant, sometimes acid-tongued, and always cerebral. There's a calming, hushed wisdom to her beautiful way with words, but she's also wickedly funny too(a scene with a magician's assistant had me laughing aloud on the subway train).
In this follow-up to 2008's "My One Hundred Adventures," (I had no idea it was a sequel when I started it by-the-way), we find Jane and her family moving from Saskatchewan after her ste...more
In this follow-up to 2008's "My One Hundred Adventures," (I had no idea it was a sequel when I started it by-the-way), we find Jane and her family moving from Saskatchewan after her ste...more
Jane and her family high-tail it out of Saskatchewan after her step-father loses his job teaching French at the local school. They head out on the road, but along the way, they come across a bag full of money supposedly left for Ned by his long lost brother, John. Apparently, Ned's mom, Dorothy, has some knowledge of John's doings and they head out to Nevada to talk with her. When the family finally reaches Nevada at Ned's mother's ranch, they find that John's left their mother quite a tidy sum...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I didn't know this was a sequel to "My One Hundred Adventures" when I picked it up. I did not care much for the first book. I found it a misstep from an otherwise reliable author (and before you raise the specter of "The Pepins and Their Problems", I liked that one, so there). "Northward to the Moon" resonated more with me. Jane's introspective streak is compelling, and it's always difficult to read about child characters who are called upon to stand in for the adults in their lives. I also felt...more
I delighted in My One Hundred Adventures and so went into this sequel a bit wary. So far I don't think of Polly Horvath as staying with characters beyond one book. But here she is sticking with Jane, her unflappable-poet mother, her younger sister, and brothers. And, let me tell you, she makes it work. This book is definitely as good, if not better, than the first one.
Jane and her family have just spent a year in Canada and, as the book begins, are setting off on a road trip due to various circu...more
Jane and her family have just spent a year in Canada and, as the book begins, are setting off on a road trip due to various circu...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I loved Horvath's novel "Everything on a Waffle" and though this was a good story, it did not quite match up to what I was hoping. Jane's family dynamic was quite eclectic - not only does she not have a relationship with her biological father, she is unsure of who he is. Nor is she aware of the father of any of her siblings. At the beginning of the book, Ned, her stepfather, is fired from his job teaching French since it is discovered that he does not speak French. Her mother, a poet, seems cons...more
Jane is ready for her whole family to hit the road - and their choice will lead them to many adventures with relatives and strangers alike. This book is told through the eyes of Jane. She wants an adventure, but it turns into a family reunion for Ned, her stepfather. When Ned gets a bag of money left from his brother they are off to find him, but can't so they head to Ned's mothers place. Ned's mother falls off a horse and is bed ridden, so Ned calls his sisters to come help. This turns into a f...more
The best thing about this book is that I was able to read it in less than 24 hours. I still haven't quite figured out which books pique my interest enough so that I actually sit down and read them through and which books don't. It isn't always, or even usually, a matter of quality. Perhaps accessibility is a better idea.
This book was accessible, but in the end, it seems too rambling and unfocused to be at the top of my lists. There were some exquisite turns of phrases and insights into people,...more
This book was accessible, but in the end, it seems too rambling and unfocused to be at the top of my lists. There were some exquisite turns of phrases and insights into people,...more
Maybe better than My One Hundred Adventures. I love the complexity of Jane's inner life. I like her awareness of herself, and the world around her. I like the landscape of this book, the meditative quality of the inner and the outer worlds. I like the lesson of letting people be who they are.
People often seem to find fault in the emotional/lyrical maturity of Horvath's writing, but I find it challenging and poetic and exciting.
In a world where we suspend disbelief about the existence of vampire...more
People often seem to find fault in the emotional/lyrical maturity of Horvath's writing, but I find it challenging and poetic and exciting.
In a world where we suspend disbelief about the existence of vampire...more
Fabulous!! Polly Horvath has a rare seamless way with simile. So many people use their simile like a sledgehammer--hey, look at me! I just made a simile! Isn't that clever? Not Horvath. Her writing is insightful, tender, and pure. The story is sweet and illuminating. The characters are believable and lovable.
Favorite quote: Most things we think other people do that are bad are merely inconvenient for us. Most people we think are bad have just not acted in a way that was convenient for us. We as...more
Favorite quote: Most things we think other people do that are bad are merely inconvenient for us. Most people we think are bad have just not acted in a way that was convenient for us. We as...more
This is the sequel to My One Hundred Adventures. I have to admit, it didn't quite live up to the first one, but sequels almost never do. Look for moon imagery throughout. As well as the idea of what it means to be part of a family and to make sacrifices. I found the mother character just a bit too lackadaisical, especially toward her daughter Maya. But the portrayal was honest. I think the second half of the book really picks up and is more reminiscent of the charm of the first book as we are fi...more
Excited to be reading this! Had my dad look at the book cover and he pretty much immediately said "this is such a badly drawn car." upon closer examination, he is of course right. i love that they're using artwork on the jacket, just wish it was better.
This was wonderfully satisfying except for the cliffhanger at the end!! What beautiful worlds Horvath creates in her writing, and what likable characters. I love the relationship between Jane and her (step?)father, Ned, and the true-to-life irrita...more
This was wonderfully satisfying except for the cliffhanger at the end!! What beautiful worlds Horvath creates in her writing, and what likable characters. I love the relationship between Jane and her (step?)father, Ned, and the true-to-life irrita...more
Jun 06, 2012
Amy Smith
added it
This sequel to My One Hundred Adventures begins after Jane and her poet mother and her three little siblings and their new father Ned are about to leave Saskatchewan. Ned's job teaching French falls apart, despite his excellent teaching skills, when it becomes clear to the school board that he cannot in fact speak French.
But it's okay, there's an adventure calling Jane –– one that includes running out of gas, finding a bag full of cash, avoiding wolves, meeting Ned's long-lost family, and tryin...more
But it's okay, there's an adventure calling Jane –– one that includes running out of gas, finding a bag full of cash, avoiding wolves, meeting Ned's long-lost family, and tryin...more
Polly Horvath has done it again with northward to the moon the sequel to my one hundred adventures, which is now out in paperback.
Jane, an adventurous child intent on grasping all the experiences that she can has found herself and her family suddenly fleeing a town nobody likes in search of an old family friend. The adventures begin. These outlaws encounter missing magicians, horse ranchers and thieves, eventually finding long lost family along the way. With a quirky cast of characters, humorou...more
Jane, an adventurous child intent on grasping all the experiences that she can has found herself and her family suddenly fleeing a town nobody likes in search of an old family friend. The adventures begin. These outlaws encounter missing magicians, horse ranchers and thieves, eventually finding long lost family along the way. With a quirky cast of characters, humorou...more
I wanted to like this book, and I did love much of the language and writing in the book. But the last line really stole my liking the book. The story is interestingly random wiht a few threads holding it together, and a few points of review from the first book. The characters are interesting, but nuts. I just can't figure out what I should take away from this book except a totally random series of adventures with minimal character development. Well, the characters are pretyt well devleoped - the...more
The first word that comes to mind when trying to describe Polly Horvath's writing is jolly, but that's not quite right. It's more hopeful or quirky, or even hippie-ish in a free spirit sort of way.
In this story, Jane's stepfather loses his job and this begins a monumental road trip for her family, across Canada and into Nevada and beyond. Jane is a great character who somehow manages to think profound thoughts while still acting childish at times. The stepfather, Ned, is a strange character, an...more
In this story, Jane's stepfather loses his job and this begins a monumental road trip for her family, across Canada and into Nevada and beyond. Jane is a great character who somehow manages to think profound thoughts while still acting childish at times. The stepfather, Ned, is a strange character, an...more
This is a quirky tale that, despite all of its odd and barely believable plot twists, is emotionally pitch-perfect. When teenager Jane's stepfather Ned loses his job (he was teaching a language that he doesn't speak), the family decides to leave the prairies of Saskatchewan and return to coastal Massachusetts. But they take the long (as in looong) way around, traveling west to find a bag of cash hidden under an elderly First Nation woman's bed, then south to meet Ned's mother, who is the unlikel...more
I was undecided whether I should give this book two or three stars, eventually decided to go with the 3 because I enjoyed especially the beginning, actually thought that this would be my kind of book since it reminded me at first of Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons. Just like her book, this story is about a family's road trip, about soul searching and uncovering complicated family relationships. As the book progressed it got too complicated for my liking and then suddenly resolved to easily. Howev...more
I guess I know now it was a sequel to another book, but I don't think that would help it much.
I really didn't mind reading this book from beginning to end because they were always doing something, but at the end, it was like, "What are they doing all this for?" I felt at the end there wasn't a real point to any of it and their wasn't a real climax or plot. (kills my possibility for a book project.) The ending was just plain rude, in my opinion.
So although the read wasn't bad, when I got to the...more
I really didn't mind reading this book from beginning to end because they were always doing something, but at the end, it was like, "What are they doing all this for?" I felt at the end there wasn't a real point to any of it and their wasn't a real climax or plot. (kills my possibility for a book project.) The ending was just plain rude, in my opinion.
So although the read wasn't bad, when I got to the...more
I liked this sequel to My One Hundred Adventures, but suspect it is not for everyone. Not much happens as Jane tries to make sense of her new stepfather's family. Ned is not particularly responsible, nor are any members of his family. Jane reports on a summer spent driving from northern Canada to the Nevada desert as Ned tries to find various family members--including his brother, who appears to be a bad magician and a thief, his sister who sees miraculous images on her food, and his mother who...more
While I was surprised that Horvath returned to these characters, I am delighted that she has. What a family--with Jane the glue holding the story together. She resents having more responsibility for 8-year-old Maya, while at the same time she worries about her sister's mental health. She loves being an "outlaw" with Ned, but then comes to realize he's looking to get out of places & adventures while she's looking to get in. This is just one of her many coming-of-age realizations.
Horvath's won...more
Horvath's won...more
The good news--Polly Horvath writes interesting, funny prose filled with wonderful, quirky characters and her numerous settings are palpably lovely. The bad news--the plots are choppy and the pacing is all over the place, and I think this book suffered the most because of it. She spends about a page getting Jane's grandmother in AND out of a nursing home, while her (relatively unimportant plot-wise) visit with the native Americans takes several chapters. The ending is abrupt and completely unsat...more
Can a tiger change his stripes? That is the question that I kept asking throughout this book. Jane, the narrator, has her own age-appropriate questions and dreams and they reminded me of my 13th year. The ending left me wanting a third book about Jane's family.
Follow Jane, her mother Felicity, the poet, stepfather Ned and Jane's younger sibings as they go on a wild goose chase from Saskatchewan to Nevada to Massachusetts, exposing more and more of Ned's past. This book is a sequel to My One Hund...more
Follow Jane, her mother Felicity, the poet, stepfather Ned and Jane's younger sibings as they go on a wild goose chase from Saskatchewan to Nevada to Massachusetts, exposing more and more of Ned's past. This book is a sequel to My One Hund...more
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Polly Horvath is the author of many books for young people, including Everything on a Waffle, The Pepins and Their Problems, The Canning Season and The Trolls. Her numerous awards include the Newbery Honor, the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature, the Mr. Christie Award, the international White Raven...more
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