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 silver urn containing her mother’s ashes and a tome she calls “The Book of Bright Ideas.” It is here, Winnalee tells Button, that she records everything she her answers to the mysteries of life. But sometimes those mysteries conceal a truth better left buried. And when a devastating secret is suddenly revealed, dividing loyalties and uprooting lives, no one–from Winnalee and her sister to Button and her family–will ever be the same.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Coming Of Age, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Young Adult, Book Club

309 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 places.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 girl named Winnalee, but also between the women in their lives, the exotic and wild Freeda, the conservative and self-loathing Jewel, and the lovable and joyful Aunt Verdella. I found the voice of the narrator captivating and consistent, so pure in spirit--dripping with innocence--that I was completely engrossed in her story of the summer Freeda and Winnalee showed up in their small Wisconsin town.

The characters and the relationships are complicated and intriguing. Winnalee, a gypsy of a girl obsessed with fairies, dress-up clothes, and the urn holding the ashes of her "Ma," carries around a display book of blank pages with the title "Great Expectations," in which she records bright ideas as they come to her. She numbers them and has a goal to reach 100 bright ideas, believing this magical number will allow her to know all the secrets of life. When she moves into Button's dead grandmother's house, Winnalee becomes Button's best friend and allows Button to add ideas to the book as they come to her. The ideas are never random, but always based on a personal experience and refreshingly down to earth and amusing. For example, "Bright Idea #90: After you play beauty shop, your husband might say you look like a beauty queen, or he might just ask you where the Phillips screwdriver is. Either way, it doesn't matter, as long as your new hair makes you think nice things about yourself." I found myself devouring each chapter and particularly looking forward to the next bright idea.

I loved this book.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

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" were so innocent and silly, but so easily translated into life's lessons.

[Lori Elliott (catching up) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming story of two girls that whip into a smalltown and change many peoples lives forever!!! Good read!!!

[Jacki · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 growing up that summer and how thing seemed to her. I'm a sucker for books written from a child's perspective & the little girls in this book won me over.

The other stuff: the situations, the 'climax', the men in the story, they just all seemed kind of cookie cutter. Had it not been for the nice, fresh perspective and innocence of the kids, I would have not liked this book at all.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 out of her. I did end up understanding why Jewel was the way she was, but in the beginning, I hated her! Winnalee couldn't have come into Button's life at a better time. Button's Aunt and Uncle were two of my favorite characters (next to the girls!).

I never had a close, best friend like Button or Winnalee and my wish would be that EVERY little girl have a friendship like theirs, as well as their own "Book of Bright Ideas". My favorite Bright Idea from the book is #84: When you go through a new town that don't look like much, stop anyway, because you might just find a best friend waiting there".

I encourage anyone who hasn't read this book to go get a copy. It's a quick read and one that can be finished in the course of a weekend!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 very well-written. I was really bothered by Freeda's language and particularly her constant use of different ways to take God's name in vain. The evolution of Jewel felt very sudden and unrealistic to me, but I liked the underlying message of that part of the story. I enjoyed the way the book unfolded toward the end with some unexpected twists and adventure. I think I liked the book more than I disliked it, but the language was a real distraction to me as I found myself having to scan paragraphs of Freeda's dialog in an effort to try and not hear my own voice in my head reading those words. It got tedious and really made the book less enjoyable for me personally.

[Stephany · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

So well-written, so enchanting. I loved this book and I'm really going to miss these characters.

[Polly · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 free your sweetest dreams or your worst nightmares, after things cool down you've got two choices. You can either slip back into yor old self, your old life, tucking those things you were too scard to look at back into hiding, or you can keep those parts of yourself out until you get so used to them that they don't scare you anymore..." Read, Savor, Enjoy!

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It has the quirky characters I love, & is told from a child's point of view. It is set in Wisconsin in the 1960s which is the time & place I grew up. The story really picks up midway through with a few twists at the end. My sister & daughter will be reading it next. If you liked "me & Emma" or "Whistling Past The Graveyard" you'll like this as well.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d give it 3.5 stars if I could. The best part was seeing Button’s life improve because of her family’s association with the Malones.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Book of Bright Ideas made me feel like I had time-traveled back to 1961. And while it was a nice place to visit – I’m glad I don’t live there anymore! Most of the characters had issues with self-esteem, trauma, depression and this was a time when no one discussed things like that. At least they didn’t until Winnalee and her older sister, Freeda, came to town. The story is told from the point of view of Winnalee, a 9-year-old, who carries around an urn with her dead mother’s ashes and her “Book of Bright Ideas” – her observations about what makes a good life. Freeda manages to straighten out most of the town’s problems with good advice and make-overs. The only person she can’t seem to help is herself. The ending is left open and there is a sequel to this book, “A Life of Bright Ideas” where Winnalee and Button reunite in the 1970’s. I’d like to find out what happens to these girls!

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Alexa Iannone Stefan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written story. There are so many life lessons embedded in this text. Two families who have different lives and complicated relationships are transformed after spending a summer two sisters who just recently move into town. These two sisters are intriguing characters to say the least, but they manage to change lives forever. I was attached to this story and could not put this book down.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful! The lives that are changed when the Malone sisters roll into town and the relationships that develop are heartwarming. Winnalee is such a perfectly developed character and won me over instantly. I'd love a sequel!

[Crystal Petty Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The innocence of Button's narration, her best friend forever Winnalee, and their bright ideas and great expectations captivated me from beginning to end. Bright Idea #100: "You have to go on believing anything's possible, or else, what's the point?"

[Lavender Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and wish there was a second book to find out what happened to these characters when they grew up. Delightful!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first time reading this author and I loved it. In fact, I loved it so much I am reading right into the follow up book A LIFE OF BRIGHT IDEAS so I won’t forget what happened!

[Clara Weinberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoy the read brought back memories of my young adulthood and what happened back then.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book quite a bit. It was light and fun, a perfect summer read. Lots of language

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Heartwarming and well written, would definitely recommend.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful

Lots of conflicting adjectives come to mind to describe this story. At times I cried and at times I laughed along with the characters. Sandra does a great job of making the reader care about the people and relate to them in a personal way. Made me think about my relationships and how they were formed and how they have survived. Highly recommend.

[Kyli · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 courage and find herself once Freeda & Winnalee come into her family's life- passing through like a strange, beautiful storm.

I enjoyed seeing the development of Jewel's character. Some people might say that it was too drastic a change, or that it was unrealistic, but I disagree. Sometimes people, particularly young people (her character is only in her early thirties), are just waiting for someone or something to push them towards change. Jewel was obviously at that point and her transformation was so uplifting. There were points at which I thought the book might cross a certain line with me - at first I thought it was implying that Jewel's lack of attention to her physical appearance or her inability to let loose, were good enough reasons for Reece to be an inattentive, unfeeling husband & father. I think it ended up wrapping that up pretty well though... nobody ever directly blamed Reece or put him in his place (I was kind of hoping somebody would), but the story seemed to acknowledge eventually that it wasn't just Jewel who needed to change, it was everybody.

I felt like the story moved a bit slow in the middle, there were times where I felt like I should've had more questions like "What's going to happen next?", but instead it sometimes read like Summer in the life of children, just Button and Winnalee's adventures and nothing else... It was endearing and cute, though and brought me back to my own childhood.

The characters were all very realistic and colorful - Winnalee was both adorable and strange. There's a certain wisdom and beauty about children who've been through too much too soon and that's what this book portrayed the best - that innocence and purity that is so often lost among adults, even adults who are right next to the children they're hurting. Of course, Freeda's back story ended up highlighting that fact as well and I found myself teary-eyed as I read the scene where she opened up about it.

As for the book of bright ideas itself, I thought it was really precious and it reminded me of something my friends and I might have done as children. There were a couple of bright ideas that I thought seemed a little bit too deep for a child to write, but then again neither girls are ordinary children.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this book - it was definitely worth the read.

[Paltia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now if this book doesn’t bring you to tears I’d have to wonder if you’re human. Kring steers clear of maudlin as she tells the tale of the changes that come about when two magical beings arrive in small town, Wisconsin, urn carrying Winnalee and her big sister, firecracker Freeda. Everything is not as it appears and thank goodness for that. With their arrival a transformation takes place affecting everyone in their proximity. You’re not likely to forget any of these characters especially the irresistible Aunt Verdella. This book feels so complete. It’s a treasure chest of wisdom in the form of the book of bright ideas. Great read. Reinforces your belief in the goodness around us.

[Amy Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 superdumbblonde. Di--what did the club think?

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book! The story of two little girls and their friendship was heartwarming and I loved how it was told from a nine year old's perspective. It was sweet to watch both she and her mother turn from "grey" people to those with color and self confidence. It had sad parts but not so much that I felt the need to cry. I'll be going back now and looking for this author's first book, Carry Me Home, next.

[Squibart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. About halfway through reading it, I realized how positive this book was and how it just felt good to read it. I was worried if I continued that some big horrible tragedy would happen that would ruin the book for me. But I went forward and while there was conflict as any story worth telling has, it fit the story without turning into a different tale completely. Beautiful and well written. I could actually read this one again! Thanks to my sister for lending this to me!

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Lisa C. Ungerecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago and it has always stuck in my mind as one of my favorite books. The characters stuck in my mind and I did not want their story to end. Over the years i have given this book as gifts many times. I now see that the author has written a sequel. I am going to re-read this book first and then can't wait to see where the story takes these characters later in their life.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise is pretty cliche. A young woman and her sister, running from their mother's death and a hard life, show up in a small town and somehow manage to bring joy and change the lives of some unhappy and bitter people. But there are some good twists to the basic plot and the writing is above average, so I found the story interesting and compelling. I will definitely read the sequel.