The Great Unexpected - a review

Creech, Sharon. 2012. The Great Unexpected.  New York: Harper Collins.

Many things are unexpected in The Great Unexpected, but none more so than the dead boy's body that drops from a tree, nearly landing on Naomi Deane, who notes,

Leaves have fallen on me, and twigs, and a branch during a storm.  Bird slop, of course, everyone gets that.  But a body?  That is not your usual thing dropping out of a tree.

(after some time, the body talked)

And as the body opened his eyes and slowly looked up and looked all around - at the meadow, at the cows in the distance, at the tree out of which he had fallen, and at me, and then he yelled, "Oh no!" and fell back on the ground and his eyes closed and he was dead again.
 

(Hear it read by Sharon Creech)



Unexpected, indeed! The boy, in fact, is Finn, a mysterious, young, flirtatious boy about 12-years-old, with whom Naomi and her best friend, Lizzie, are smitten. 

Half of the story takes place in the small indeterminate town of Blackbird Tree, where many "unfortunate souls," reside - including Naomi and Lizzie - both orphans, "Witch Wiggins," "Crazy Cora," Mr. Canner, and the huge and unruly clan of Dimmenses.  Naomi narrates the story with a generous helping of Sharon Creech's delightfully descriptive prose, as in this description of the newcomer, "the Dingle-Dangle Man,"

His head jerked slightly to the left and then to the right, like a bird on a worm prowl.
 

Or in this depiction of Witch Wiggins' house,

If you had to guess which house a witch lived in, this would be it.  The house tilted to one side, as if eavesdropping on its neighbor.

The other half of the story takes places in Rook's Orchard, Ireland.  The connection between the two towns is also unexpected, and early in the book, unexplained.  The Rook's Orchard chapter names are prefaced with "Across the Ocean," and contain a third person narrative of the activities of a certain Sybil Kavanaugh, her constant companion, Miss Pilpenny, and Mr. Dingle (known stateside as "the Dingle-Dangle Man").

The Great Unexpected is a story of possibility, of friendship, of first loves, and the nature of true love.  Many things are unexpected, and if we greet them with open arms, and there is a hint of magic in the air, who knows what may happen.

Delightful and quirky and highly recommended.
The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech

Drama - a review

Telgemeier, Raina. 2012. Drama. New York: Scholastic.

Drama is Raina Telgemeier’s newest graphic novel, following her bestseller, Smile (GRAPHIX 2010). Drama, written in “acts” rather than chapters, follows Callie, a seventh grader deep into preparations for the Eucalyptus Middle School play. The play is a musical; Drama’s “drama” stems from typical middle school relationships. Callie likes Greg, Greg likes Bonnie, Bonnie and Greg are fighting, Matt is upset, and there’s a pair of new kids at school - twins, who may or may not fit into the school’s adolescent romantic mix. Add Callie’s desire to create the best exploding cannon prop ever and a limited amount of time to complete the show, and the drama is complete.

Telgemeier’s full-color illustrations have clean lines and the panels are straightforward,easy to follow. Emotion is capably demonstrated in the many variations of the character’s eyes and the dialogue will ring true with middle-schoolers, particularly those in band or drama clubs.

This is a solid addition to middle-grade graphic novels like Jimmy Gownley’s Amelia Rules! series (Atheneum), and is particularly noteworthy for its prominent depiction of gay students. Telgemeier breaks new ground in introducing gay characters to a novel for younger readers (ages 10 and up). What makes it noteworthy is the fact that it is not. The new students are folded into the story without fanfare or drama, just as gay students all around the country are woven into the fabric of their school communities without fanfare or drama. As it should be.

Audiobook roundup: puddles, love, tea and independence

I’ve listened to several audiobooks lately, and haven’t had time to post anything about them. A quick rundown:

The Problem with the Puddles
By Kate Feiffer, read by Halley Feiffer, published by Listening Library
About 3 hours.

The problem with the Puddles?  Well, the Puddles actually have a host of problems.  To begin with, Mr. and Mrs. Puddle disagree - a lot!  For that reason, Baby, which is the name the exasperated hospital nurse finally wrote on the birth certificate when the Puddle parents failed to agree on any other, is called Ferdinanda by her father and Emily by her mother. Her brother, Tom, was somehow more fortunate. The Puddles' dogs, a miniature Chihuahua and a Great Dane are, (due to another disagreement) each named Sally - the Sallys or Sally squared, for short. 

The Puddle parents, however, "agree to disagree" (the title, BTW, of Mrs. Puddle's bestselling book!), and disagreements are not their current problem. Sally squared is the problem. In leaving their country house for a trip to their city house, they have accidentally left the Sallys behind!  While debating whether to go on or go back, the family car breaks down; in attempting to flag down a passing motorist, they are mistaken for a modern dance troupe, the Dancing Puddles.  Meanwhile, the Sallys have struck out on their own for the city. A hilarious set of circumstances ensues.

The story alternates in perspective, with chapters switching between the escapades of the devoted Sallys and the dithering Puddles.  The writing is funny and unique.  The Puddles are unforgettable. Great in audio format, but likely even funnier in print due to the illustrations! 

This book is a quirky winner for chapter book readers!

Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love

By Lauren Tarshis, read by Mamie Gummer, published by Random House Audio.

Two hours and 43 minutes.

This review refers to the audio book read by Mamie Gummer. Not having read the first Emma-Jean Lazarus book, I didn't quite understand Emma-Jean's precise, peculiar, stilted, and clipped manner of speaking. (truthfully, I still don't) Early in the book, I assumed that the protagonist's precise mannerisms would annoy me; however, as the story progressed - a story of first loves, friendship, misunderstandings, and a loving home, I became connected to, and charmed by the characters. Although the foreshadowing was a bit obvious for a book aimed at grades 5-7, the sum of all its parts was much greater than I anticipated. Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love is a positive and heartwarming story with a touch of humor.

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Journey to Change the World...One Child at a Time
By Greg Mortenson, read by Atossa Leoni, foreword by Vanessa Redgrave, published by Penguin Audio.
(nonfiction) About 4 hours.

This is the children’s version of the inspiring adult book by the same name, and recounts Greg Mortenson’s quest to provide schools for poor children in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Atossa Leoni’s accented voice is perfect for this story, adding a subtle reminder that the story takes place far from the comforts of the United States. An inspirational, original song follows the reading of the book. Greg Mortenson’s story is inspiring and uplifting, but I doubt it is one that most children will read willingly. However, I would certainly not hesitate to recommend it.

and finally,

The Three Documents That Made America: The Declaration of Independence (1776), The Constitution of the United States of America (1787), The Bill of Rights and Other Amendments (1791)
By Terry Bregy, read by Sam Fink, published by Audio Bookshelf, LLC

About 1.5 hours

I don't know what possessed me to listen to this one, (other than my history geekiness!), but I have to admit that I didn't get through it to the end.  The audiobook contains interesting background information on each document and a reading of each.  The Declaration of Independence was captivating enough, but even the best reader can't liven up the Constitution.  I almost nodded off in the car while listening to it. Still, it's a useful title for teachers or taken in small doses.  Every child should know more of the documents that make our country unique.