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89th out of 287 books
—
16 voters
Blue Willow
by
Doris Gates
A little girl, who wants most of all to have a real home and to go to a regular school, hopes that the valley her family has come to, which so resembles the pattern on her treasured blue willow plate, will be their permanent home.
Paperback, 176 pages
Published
September 30th 1976
by Puffin
(first published January 1st 1940)
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This is a tale about Janey Larkin, the daughter of migrant workers in 1930s California. They arrive at the San Joaquin Valley and set up housekeeping in an abandoned shack. Janey wearily settles in for yet another temporary home as her father works the cotton harvest. The story follows a few months in the family's life, showcasing some of the aspects of the workers' lives. It's a rather pedestrian and predictable tale, but Ms. Gates does do a good job of establishing the setting and making it se...more
This is the dullest book I read in my childhood. I find it ironic that it stuck with me so thoroughly, since I liked it so little. My mom checked it out from the library for me to read because it was recommended in "Honey for a Child's Heart". I was dubious as soon as I read the book blurb on the back cover, but knew that looks could be deceiving, so I started to read. A few chapters into the narrative, I begged my mom to let me drop the book. I complained that it was the most boring thing I had...more
Blue Willow is most definitely a book from my childhood that stuck with me. It was the first time I had to work to read a book: not because the text was difficult, but because it gave rise to feelings inside of me that were sad and despondent, as I began to identify with the main character, a young girl who is living through the Depression.
The title refers to her one and only possession of worth: a Blue Willow plate. As her family moves from place to place she has learned to never expect permane...more
The title refers to her one and only possession of worth: a Blue Willow plate. As her family moves from place to place she has learned to never expect permane...more
Janey is travelling with her parents from Texas to California while her dad searches for work. They squat in a shack near Fresno during the cotton harvest. Janey wishes more than anything to stay in one place, attend a "regular school" and have a home in which to display her most prized possession, a Blue Willow plate.
Janey's family is very poor, but generally happy. The meagerness of her possessions forces her to take joy in small things like a trip to a free fair, catching catfish by a river,...more
Janey's family is very poor, but generally happy. The meagerness of her possessions forces her to take joy in small things like a trip to a free fair, catching catfish by a river,...more
Excellent piece of children's literature! I read this in conjunction with my son's homeschool program, as we were studying the Southwest. The book involves a young girl, Janey, the daughter of migrant workers, who longs for permanence in her impoverished, unstable life situation. I was especially impressed with the spiritual insight this book gives. While not specifically a Christian novel, Janey clings to Scripture for security: "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and hea...more
A WILLOW TO WISH ON
Janey Larkin has grown up the daughter of migrant workers, with no roots and skimpy education. Her family occupies an empty shack while Dad works in the cotton fields, but she yearns to attend a real school (as opposed to a "camp" school) and live in a permanent home, so she can make friends.
Janey's prized possession (from her great grandmother) is a lovely plate with the blue and white Chinese pagoda willow pattern. Her unrealistic dream is to live in such a house by a love...more
Janey Larkin has grown up the daughter of migrant workers, with no roots and skimpy education. Her family occupies an empty shack while Dad works in the cotton fields, but she yearns to attend a real school (as opposed to a "camp" school) and live in a permanent home, so she can make friends.
Janey's prized possession (from her great grandmother) is a lovely plate with the blue and white Chinese pagoda willow pattern. Her unrealistic dream is to live in such a house by a love...more
There don't seem to be that many books about the Dust Bowl and migrant workers during the Depression, at least for kids. Bonus for this one--it was published in 1940, when these experiences and stories were still quite fresh.
Janey is really just waiting for a place she can call home. More than anything I've read about this time period, this book captures how hard it must have been for kids to always be on the move. She wants to make friends and belong but she can't--because they'll have to move....more
Janey is really just waiting for a place she can call home. More than anything I've read about this time period, this book captures how hard it must have been for kids to always be on the move. She wants to make friends and belong but she can't--because they'll have to move....more
This is a pleasant book for young girls. It is the story about Janey Larkin who is from a very poor family growing up in the San Joaquin Valley in California around the 1930’s. Her family hasn’t stayed in a place for very long because her father is a migrant farm worker who goes from place to place where work is needed. As they settle in their new home, Janey grows to love it very much and doesn’t want to move onto the next place in a few months.
I enjoyed this book. It was a light read with no b...more
I enjoyed this book. It was a light read with no b...more
I picked this up at the library. Never heard of it or the author before, but I liked the cover art (different, older edition from this one). Yes, I'm that shallow.
HOWEVER... the story was really, really good. Well-written, concise, even profound while never being more than an age-appropriate children's story. I particularly could relate to Janey, having always been the Odd One. Very, very charming, and I'm going to see if there are more books by this author.
HOWEVER... the story was really, really good. Well-written, concise, even profound while never being more than an age-appropriate children's story. I particularly could relate to Janey, having always been the Odd One. Very, very charming, and I'm going to see if there are more books by this author.
The depression-era story of a Janey; a girl from a poor family who is constantly moving around while her father looks for work. She longs for a real home and a best friend. When her family hits rock bottom, Janey offers to sell her most beloved posession; the blue willow plate that used to belong to her great-great grandmother. I loved this story as a child and when I read it again as an adult. One of my favorites.
I can see why this is a Newberry honor book. This book was written in 1940, so I didn't think it would pertain to today's world, but this book is about so much more than a blue willow plate. It is about friendship, relationships, and doing the right thing even if we get it wrong sometimes.
There were times when Gates told instead of showed, but overall, I loved this book.
There were times when Gates told instead of showed, but overall, I loved this book.
I loved this book so much that I bought it for
Elizabeth as a gift when she was young with a
real place setting of Blue Willow China.
My sister in-law, Jane Ann had a full service for 12 -the real stuff
from England..... I know she never used it once before she died.
I think of her though for some reason when I think of this book
Elizabeth as a gift when she was young with a
real place setting of Blue Willow China.
My sister in-law, Jane Ann had a full service for 12 -the real stuff
from England..... I know she never used it once before she died.
I think of her though for some reason when I think of this book
This was a nice story about what it was like during the depression and how people were migrants during that time. There are big themes of independence, trustworthiness, and friendship. It might be good to read this to contrast with a book like Esperanza Rising, which also is set in a migrant farm community but in the 60s.
Doris Gates is an author that was routinely on our required reading lists in elementary school. I loved her books and read many of them but Blue Willow was my favorite. I found my copy at an antique store and was quite happy to pay the price for it. The illustrations by Paul Lantz are beautiful. Recommend
This is a Newberry Medal winner story of a 10 year old girl, her great-great grandmother’s blue willow plate, and her desire for a permanent home. Janey Larkin’s father is an itinerant worker since losing his ranch in Texas 5 years earlier. They move into an empty shack in the San Joaquin Valley while he picks cotton. Janey makes friends with a Mexican girl and her family who live across the road. The story covers one fall when they run into a series of troubles that almost costs them the plate....more
Buku ini telah menyadarkan saya bahwa hidup penuh dengan perjuangan. Bahkan hanya nutuk memperoleh tempat tingal yang layak. Kita harus tetap berpegang teguh pada mimpi yang kita usahakan agar terwujud. Dan karena mimpi itu terwujud hanya dengan usaha.
Soooo far in this book it is mostly boring. Two girls have very different difference. they try to fight but in a kind way, but someitmes it doesnt sound like that. I hope the book will get interesting very soon
I learned that friendship is more valuable than anything you own.
This is a great book that teach you that friendship can be more valuable than a plate. I like this book because she finds her first friend in her life.
This is a great book that teach you that friendship can be more valuable than a plate. I like this book because she finds her first friend in her life.
This was my favorite book when I was in 4th grade. I read it over and over again. Not sure what I would think as an adult, but it is probably worth the couple hours it would take to read it!
Feb 22, 2009
Joanna
added it
I really enjoyed this book. It really makes you appreciate what you have when you look at this girl, and how she was so thankful for just the small things. Refreshing, good read. :)
Single Worst book I have EVER read in my entire life. I had to read it for TAG and I almost gauged my eyes out. The first and pretty much only book I've fallen asleep during.
Innocent, ageless book form a girl's perspective during the Dust Bowl. I like the fact Janey is old, yet young at the same time because of the kind of life she has to live.
History Year Four (Modern). Dust bowl, depression, farm labor, Fresno county. There are tears, hard times, and blessed redemption. One of our favorites.
May 09, 2009
Story Revolution
added it
Blue Willow is the perfect book to jump start a young girl to read, instead of watching TV. Even though this book was written over sixty years ago. The struggles Janey had are not any different then many girl's of today. It is how she deals with these over whelming problems that will teach young girl's a valueable lesson. I have purchased a book for my eleven year old granddaughter to read.Jenny, a little girl, who wants most of all to have a real home and to go to a regular school, hopes that t...more
I remember reading this years ago, but it was good enough to stick out in my mind! Good job of recreating the setting of the hardships of the 30s
I don't know why I always think of this book, But I do. Seems I somehow related to Janey as a child. Good book, and obviously unforgettable.
I loved this book as a child. i read it more than once. I would love to read it as an adult and see if I like it as much.
Violet's 2009-2010 reading page: http://happyheartsmom.typepad.com/swe...
Aug 10, 2011
Emilymenz
added it
I read this as a kid, and remember being really moved by the family's heartache and Janie's ingenuity.
This was our homeschooling bookclub selection. It was a little slow, but we did enjoy the story. I give it a 2 1/2.
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A lifelong resident of California, Doris Gates was for many years, she was a librarian for the Fresno County Free Library. However, she is remembered for her many beloved children's books. Of these, the best known and most influential was Blue Willow (1940), selected as a Newbery Honor Book in 1941. Many consider Blue Willow to have been the first realistic, problem novel for children, and it was...more
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Sep 13, 2011 07:12am