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lyctors's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
katdfleming's review against another edition
2.0
I had high expectations for this, as it won awards. But I just wasn't into it. It didn't seem like probable behavior from the kids, so it was hard for me to buy into.
lmkramer507's review against another edition
5.0
Great story--great audiobook. It made a long drive fly by and captured the interest of parents and teenagers alike.
alidottie's review against another edition
5.0
I adore this book and have read it several times with my daughters too. I think everyone should read this book.
sksrenninger's review against another edition
4.0
LOVED this when I read it, sometime in early middle school.
stephxsu's review against another edition
3.0
First read in sixth grade for school; then, recently, I picked it up again on a whim, because working in literature education with kids of a similar reading level made me think back to the books I read when they were around their age. I remember finding this book interesting, but a little weird. But my impression of this book seemed to ripen with age until I was convinced it was canonical lit for sixth graders everywhere.
Well, the reread was disappointing. Despite it being written in the nineties, the dialogue already seemed outdated--what was up with the lack of contractions? I thought about it and I don't really think it was a characterization thing because so many of the characters talked that way, without contractions. Back in sixth grade, I thought the Souls were kind of mystical, an elevated species of middle-schooler to be emulated. Now, I just think they're slightly pretentious and contrived. There was falsity ringing from the pages, and it was disappointing for me to discover that the magic I had attributed to this novel may not have been there all along.
Well, the reread was disappointing. Despite it being written in the nineties, the dialogue already seemed outdated--what was up with the lack of contractions? I thought about it and I don't really think it was a characterization thing because so many of the characters talked that way, without contractions. Back in sixth grade, I thought the Souls were kind of mystical, an elevated species of middle-schooler to be emulated. Now, I just think they're slightly pretentious and contrived. There was falsity ringing from the pages, and it was disappointing for me to discover that the magic I had attributed to this novel may not have been there all along.
sallyavena's review against another edition
4.0
A fun read about four kids in 6th grade that come together to form a quiz bowl team but also come together as friends and end up helping each other on a "journey". As a team they also help their teacher start her "journey". A little hard to follow at times because it jumps from place to place throughout a chapter. Over all, a good book for a soon to be teenager.