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September Read - The War that Saved My Life
By Kristen · 52 posts · 232 views
By Kristen · 52 posts · 232 views
last updated Nov 08, 2016 01:53AM
What Members Thought
Wow. Just wow.
p. 316 "All the creatures on this Earth might be made from stardust. But we are the only ones who get to know it."
"We are newcomers to this planet. We may be plenty fragile. But we're the only ones who can decide to change."
p. 331 "Can't a regular guy be a hero?
"Hmm...Doesn't happen often, but I suppose it can happen now and then."
"Beneath her coat, she wore a T-shirt that read I TEACH SCIENCE. WHAT'S YOUR SUPERPOWER?" (Just added Mrs. Thurston to our Cool Teachers in Children's L ...more
p. 316 "All the creatures on this Earth might be made from stardust. But we are the only ones who get to know it."
"We are newcomers to this planet. We may be plenty fragile. But we're the only ones who can decide to change."
p. 331 "Can't a regular guy be a hero?
"Hmm...Doesn't happen often, but I suppose it can happen now and then."
"Beneath her coat, she wore a T-shirt that read I TEACH SCIENCE. WHAT'S YOUR SUPERPOWER?" (Just added Mrs. Thurston to our Cool Teachers in Children's L ...more
Suzy Swanson stole my heart! This bright, inquisitive 12 year old is going through a very hard time in her young life. She is in middle school (Need I say more?), she is on the outs with her lifelong BFF, her parents are divorced, and she suffers a terrible loss.The book is organized around the scientific method with a nod to her wonderful, intuitive science teacher who is a lifeline for Suzy during her ordeal. Ali Benjamin weaves a lot of science content in a masterfully crafted and timely stor
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Sometimes you want things to change so badly, you can't even stand to be in the same room with the way things actually are.
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It is slightly ridiculous that this book did not win the Newbery. There are so many amazing things about it from the characters to the beautiful descriptions to the heart-wrenching emotions. I loved all of the science and I couldn't get enough of Justin and Suzy. Justin was so likable and I just wanted to hug Suzy. I read this in one sitting. I couldn't stop.
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I love so much about this book. I love Suzy Swanson, a girl who knows curiously odd facts, many of them about jellyfish. I love that this is a book where you as the reader can come away also knowing odd, but true facts. I love Suzy's 7th grade science teacher Mrs. Turton. I think she's my favorite teacher in middle grade fiction. I love that Suzy's grief over losing her best friend is complicated by the loss of the friendship before her friend's death. Grief is often messy this way, and the auth
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The end of this book had successfully made me sobbing. Actually the story is pretty standard- friendship, struggle of being different, coming of age, overcoming grief and of course family issues. But - the way Ali Benjamin crafting the story as if this is a research paper, and including fascinating facts about jellyfish inside- are unique. And I love Suzy's nerdy character and can relate well with her. Even though the middle graders drama made me cringe a little bit :D
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Grades 5-8. Suzy, a 7th grader, is navigating school social and family changes after the death of her best friend. Convinced that the only cause of death was a rare jellyfish, she turns all her energy and thoughts to obsessive research and stops talking altogether.
The unresolved relationship and grief ring true. Benjamin does a great job getting into a middle schooler's head. I fell in love with the characters. I cried (which I never do!). Wonderful book. ...more
The unresolved relationship and grief ring true. Benjamin does a great job getting into a middle schooler's head. I fell in love with the characters. I cried (which I never do!). Wonderful book. ...more
Jul 19, 2015
Dan
marked it as to-read
Aug 25, 2015
Margo Jantzi
marked it as to-read
Oct 04, 2015
V C
marked it as to-read
Oct 04, 2017
Colleen
added it
Jul 11, 2018
Kate
marked it as to-read
