Sharon
Creech is one of those authors that can write anything and I will want to read
it. That being said, when I saw John Schu tweet many weeks ago that he was
reading her fall release, The Great Unexpected, I was jealous. Good
things come to those who wait and I was thrilled to find a copy of the ARC in
my mail last week. Today being a lazy Sunday, I settled down to read it.
This was
a unusual reading experience for me in that I had no knowledge what this book
was about. I didn’t even read the back since I was so eager to dive in.
Interestingly, there are two different story lines: one in America where Naomi
and her friend Lizzie live in Blackbird Tree, a small town with many quirky
characters. The other story line takes place across the ocean in Ireland where an
older women lives and is bent on revenge.
I was conscious
of the questions in my mind as I read – how were all of these characters
connected? When would the story lines intersect? I think that would be a great
discussion point for my students – are they aware that when you have two
different stories occurring in the book they will connect? Are you questioning
in your mind to see if you can discover why? I think this will be a
conversation in my reading camp this week.
While I
enjoyed all of the characters I was especially drawn to Naomi. I felt a lot
like her as a kid – sometimes like the problems of the world were too big. I
loved how she tried to escape to the moon like her friend Lizzie and see how
insignificant we were but was unable to. I loved her feelings of jealousy
regarding Finn (and Lizzie’s cluelessness). I think this is a story many
children will enjoy.
Two
quotes I loved….
Did a delicate
cobweb link us all, silky lines trailing through the air?
I had big thoughts
to match the big wind. I wondered if we find the people we need when we need
them. I wondered if we attract our future by some sort of invisible force, or
if we are drawn to it by a similar force. I felt I was turning a corner and
that change was afoot.
The
Great Unexpected
is a book that falls into many different categories, much of it deals with realistic
issues: friendship, love, family, death. Parts are in the fantasy world –
ghosts. There is some mystery interwoven throughout. This will make an excellent addition to your
middle grade classroom library and, lucky you, I have one ARC to giveaway.
Giveaway
Rules
1. The
giveaway will run from July 15, 2012 to midnight on July 18, 2012.
2. This
contest is open to people living in the continental United States.
3. You
must be at least 13 to enter.
4. If
you can, please pay it forward. Thanks!
Copy
provided by Harper Collins
