Nothing will top Bridge to Terabithia by the same author, and this book was nowhere close. A bit disappointing.

I think this was a very ... interesting book. It's not my favorite type of book, because it was too short and longer books tend to have more detail which i like but I would recommend it.

This book for kids is about siblings who recently lost their father. Little Mason refuses to talk and older Vinnie is supposed to "help" her mother as they move into Grandmom's house, start at a new school and meet new friends. I can't really say what the point of this books is. That the kids were disturbed? That no one ever seemed to talk to Vinnie? That Grandmom and mom were both bullies and only seemed to care for Mason's problems? That the only adult nice to Vinnie ended up being the target of her vandalism? From an adult's perspective I know what the author wants to do with this, but frankly I can't see reading this book with fourth or fifth graders because I just don't think they'd get it. I think that Vinnie's responses to her life would make sense and the ending is too abrupt and doesn't actually resolve any of the problems. The only redeeming part of the book is that Vinnie learns that there are people who are kind no matter what and sometimes friends are found in the most surprising places.

I have to admit that I liked Bridge to Terabithia much better, but this was an okay story.

C: CHILDREN: No offensive language, sex or nudity but might contain occasional comedic Violence.

E:Easy: 3rd grade Vocabulary

Method: Physical Book

Location: Chautaugua-Cattaraugus Library System

I quick read for a Saturday morning. A bit heartrending, but as good as I expected.

I remember having really intense feelings about this book but can't remember if I loved/hated it... I'm leaning more towards "loved, but it was too depressing for that already depressing time in my life, so I can't remember and didn't want to reread"?

chapter book 5th grade and up. Like many of Patterson's book, poignant.

3.5 ⭐️

Don't even bother with this one.

This book was about how children suffer loss and how they cope. Each in their own way, but all need help understanding their emotions. Just because a child appears to be doing okay, don’t ignore them, they still have problems! Lupe was a great help! And in most cases very mature for her age.

A young girl's life changes when her father dies of cancer. Her mother cannot afford the rent alone so they move from Washington to a small town in Virginia with their grandmother. Vinnie has to go to a new school, in a new town, with no friends, goofy clothes and is responsible for her little brother Mason who is nothing but trouble. Lupe, the mysterious "flip- flop girl" might be just the friend she needs, if only Vinnie can ignore the rumors about her past. The book deals with the issue of an adolescent girl mixed in with the complications of grieving a significant loss.