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What Members Thought
Nov 21, 2011
Elizabeth K.
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
2011-new-reads
The funny thing is that I went into this expecting it to be sad, in fact, I planned on it, and held on to the book until I knew I had a night home alone so I could sufficiently wallow in it and thoroughly enjoy the sadness. But what happened is that I read that book about the slaves at Monticello while I was waiting for my Night of Reading and Kleenex to come up, and it turns out that real life slavery is fairly distressing on its own, which I think put some of my wallowing in perspective.
This ...more
This ...more
A monster calls to Conor at 12:07 a.m. And informs him that it is going to tell Conor three stories, and after the third story, Conor must tell the monster his truth. Conor doesn't want to hear the monsters stories and he knows he doesn't want to tell his truth (the nightmare) to the monster, or anyone, for that matter. At first Conor dreads visits from the monster, but as his mother continues to get sicker and a bully continues to harass him at school, he begins to anxiously await the monsters
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I am red-eyed, teary after reading this brief, intense title in a single sitting. It is a remarkable achievement in its interweaving of Dowd's original story, Ness's masterful writing, and Kay's powerful black & white illustrations.
I'm loath to reveal the premise or plot (& both are readily available). I found the story both simple & complex, clearly written for an adolescent (some points of plot were predictable), but worth the read for anyone.
I can think of a few 7th- & 8th-graders who will ...more
I'm loath to reveal the premise or plot (& both are readily available). I found the story both simple & complex, clearly written for an adolescent (some points of plot were predictable), but worth the read for anyone.
I can think of a few 7th- & 8th-graders who will ...more
As I finished this, I kept thinking: this really isn't a book for kids. It is too powerful and too sad. I know that kids have to go through experiences like this, but it is hard to envision giving them this book, before they need to know this kind of pain. And yet... To know these experiences is to know what humans are.
I still don't know if I would give this book to most kids. I do know, however, that I will not willingly read it aloud. I can't get through Where the Red Fern Grows, either. ...more
I still don't know if I would give this book to most kids. I do know, however, that I will not willingly read it aloud. I can't get through Where the Red Fern Grows, either. ...more
This book is every bit as brilliant and deserving of accolades as it's received and hopefully will receive. It's simple yet powerful, and deals with themes of courage and honesty and grief. It's about the monster that lives deep inside all of us, and having the courage to face what our hearts know to be true but our minds may not want to acknowledge. A truly unforgettable novel.
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Dec 21, 2011
Kristin R
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult,
fiction
Wow!! I thought it was excellent, even after all the tears have been shed. Beautifully written and illustrated. It is a touching story of Conor, a 13 year old boy coming to grips with his mother's cancer. He has a recurring nightmare about a Yew tree that turns into a monster and talks to him.
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I can't believe how AMAZING this book is!! Everyone must read this. If you like to listen to your books, please do. This audiobook is FANTASTIC. Rush out now and get it!!!!!!!!
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mock newberry blog. - loved it! Very sad, but probably okay for 6th
Any book that makes me cry like this has to be fantastic, but I have no idea who I'd give this book to.
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Oh, yes, this one will make you cry. The heart-wrenching story, the intense black-and-white illustrations, the gorgeous book design --it all combines to create an immersive and powerful reading experience. If you're looking for something similar, check out the graphic novel I KILL GIANTS and the movie TOTORO.
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Unique and amazing. Ness does an exceptional job of describing Conor confronting his fears. The illustrations add depth to the monster. I loved the storytelling within the story. Newbery frontrunner.
A masterful piece of imagery. I've never read anything like this and really have no idea how to categorize it. I think I need to put Mr. Ness on the top of next read list.
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Nov 05, 2011
Books_the_Magical_Fruit
rated it
liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
ya-apocalypse
Dec 12, 2011
Heather
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
boy-books,
middle-grade
Apr 24, 2012
Mr. Wojahn
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult-kids
