An earnest but unpolished story, it nevertheless stands out for its confrontation of a little-acknowledged subject.
When his father is released after serving eight years in prison for stealing, 11-year-old Kaden hopes it will be a new beginning.
Brought up by Gram—his father’s mother—in a cluster of rural cabins (a quirky setting that works), Kaden keeps to himself, spending his free time in an abandoned fire tower with Kubla, a semitame crow. But on the first day of middle school, he meets Yo-Yo, a new kid who delivers friendship to Kaden and a bit of humor to the story. After a few false starts, Kaden and his newly released father begin to form a faltering relationship, despite his father’s sometimes implausibly temperamental behavior. But when Kaden discovers his father continues to steal, Kaden must make the hardest decision of his young life. While this story admirably delves into the hard questions of personal responsibility, it conveys its theme with little subtlety. Instead of allowing readers to figure things out for themselves, the text neatly interprets and sums up each action and exchange of dialogue. The supporting characters, with the exception of the delightful Yo-Yo, are one-dimensional. And although there are valuable messages here for young readers about making mature decisions, too many scenes that impart these messages seem gratuitous and pat, lacking a clear and forward-progressing relationship to the story as a whole.
An earnest but unpolished story, it nevertheless stands out for its confrontation of a little-acknowledged subject. (Fiction. 8-10)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-58536-914-0
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Ironically, by choosing such a dramatic catalyst, the author weakens the adventure’s impact overall and leaves readers to...
A group of talking farm animals catches wind of the farm owner’s intention to burn the barn (with them in it) for insurance money and hatches a plan to flee.
Bond begins briskly—within the first 10 pages, barn cat Burdock has overheard Dewey Baxter’s nefarious plan, and by Page 17, all of the farm animals have been introduced and Burdock is sharing the terrifying news. Grady, Dewey’s (ever-so-slightly) more principled brother, refuses to go along, but instead of standing his ground, he simply disappears. This leaves the animals to fend for themselves. They do so by relying on their individual strengths and one another. Their talents and personalities match their species, bringing an element of realism to balance the fantasy elements. However, nothing can truly compensate for the bland horror of the premise. Not the growing sense of family among the animals, the serendipitous intervention of an unknown inhabitant of the barn, nor the convenient discovery of an alternate home. Meanwhile, Bond’s black-and-white drawings, justly compared to those of Garth Williams, amplify the sense of dissonance. Charming vignettes and single- and double-page illustrations create a pastoral world into which the threat of large-scale violence comes as a shock.
Ironically, by choosing such a dramatic catalyst, the author weakens the adventure’s impact overall and leaves readers to ponder the awkward coincidences that propel the plot. (Animal fantasy. 8-10)Pub Date: July 7, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-544-33217-1
Page Count: 256
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: March 31, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2015
The second installment in this spirited series is a hit.
A new baby coming means Ryan has lots of opportunities to grow love.
Ryan has so much to look forward to this summer—she is going to be a big sister, and she finally gets to go to church camp! But new adventures bring challenges, too. Ryan feels like the baby is taking forever to arrive, and with Mom on bed rest, she isn’t able to participate in the family’s typical summer activities. Ryan’s Dad is still working the late shift, which means he gets home and goes to bed when she and her older brother, Ray, are waking up, so their quality daddy-daughter time is limited to one day a week. When the time for camp finally arrives, Ryan is so worried about bugs, ghosts, and sharing a cabin that she wonders if she should go at all. Watson’s heroine is smart and courageous, bringing her optimistic attitude to any challenge she faces. Hard topics like family finances and complex relationships with friends are discussed in an age-appropriate way. Watson continues to excel at crafting a sense of place; she transports readers to Portland, Oregon, with an attention to detail that can only come from someone who has loved that city. Ryan, her family, and friends are Black, and occasional illustrations by Mata spotlight their joy and make this book shine.
The second installment in this spirited series is a hit. (Fiction. 8-10)Pub Date: April 27, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0058-8
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2021
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