Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

[Mandy]

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[Carolyn H]

I read this book in January and this is what I wrote......This book is lovely. I will read this book again in a couple of years, enjoy it a second time. Hopefully it will be considered for a Newberry for 2013 publishing.

[Strait]

This book was my first five star Goodreads listing for the year 2013. I read it in January and was excited to recommend it to others. Vanderpool tells and weaves together a wonderful story of friendship, family and forgiveness as two boys, Jack & Early, embark on an adventure together. I, too, wondered if it was published too "early":) in the year to be remembered by the Newbery committee. Let us hope not.

[Gay]

Though I'm not ordinarily a fan of magical realism, Vanderpool took me for a great adventure. Not totally pleased with the ending, but overall, a contender imho.

[Drew]

I didn't enjoy this one as much as I hoped I might. I liked the setting (Maine, 1945, hiking on the Appalachian Trail). The pacing was slow, however, and I didn't end up caring about the characters as much as I felt I should have. I'm also not sure how much appeal this one would have for the average teen reader.

NE has been met with almost universal praise, so maybe I'm just missing something. This one was only okay for me. 2.5 stars.