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idonttcareeeee's review against another edition
5.0
*march 2024 ver:
never misses a beat. never disappoints. will reread this til the end of days and i've had it for 10 years now
Real rating: 10/5 (no, that is not a typo)
My teacher gave this book to me in 3rd grade and it was honestly my favourite book, and it still is. I have loved and cherished this book since the time I got it.
I lost it a while ago and couldn’t remember the name, and I really wanted my mom to read it, because I thought she would like it, too. I have been searching since then for what the title was and where it went, but nothing worked. Until now. And I am so happy to have found it.
never misses a beat. never disappoints. will reread this til the end of days and i've had it for 10 years now
Real rating: 10/5 (no, that is not a typo)
My teacher gave this book to me in 3rd grade and it was honestly my favourite book, and it still is. I have loved and cherished this book since the time I got it.
I lost it a while ago and couldn’t remember the name, and I really wanted my mom to read it, because I thought she would like it, too. I have been searching since then for what the title was and where it went, but nothing worked. Until now. And I am so happy to have found it.
christiana's review against another edition
3.0
Nice, albeit boring, gentle read. I think this is the kind of book that makes people say things like, "but nothing HAPPENS in realistic fiction". Things happen in this book, but I don't know. Kind of a sleepy, slow book.
hayleybeale's review against another edition
3.0
Perfectly pleasant and decently written coming of age tale, but I feel I've read better - Joan Bauer and Sharon Creech come to mind.
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
4.0
Raine has grown up without a father and neither her mother nor grandfather will talk about him. When her mother accepts a job as cook to an artists' retreat, Raine adds it to her growing list of puzzles.
Over the course of the summer, Raine grows attached to the artists and learns about herself and her family. She practices her craft (writing) and finds her voice.
A great book for young writers or those with an interest in the arts or those with divided families .
Over the course of the summer, Raine grows attached to the artists and learns about herself and her family. She practices her craft (writing) and finds her voice.
A great book for young writers or those with an interest in the arts or those with divided families .
mjenae's review
4.0
The characters popped off the page! I saw each one exactly as described, each with their own voice and quirks and way of interacting with the world. What a wonderful cast.
For some reason, I've been reading a lot of books lately that touch on the theme of an absent father. I can't relate personally, but the way it was portrayed in Sparrow Road came across as very realistic to me. I could feel Raine's feelings, and it made sense—her longing, her hesitation, her anger, her anxiety. I'm glad she took me on the journey with her.
One special part for me was Diego coaching Raine through becoming a writer: the "what was or what could be." His advice was very solid, and I took it to heart. I think I'd have appreciated it even more had I read it when I was Raine's age and just becoming a serious writer myself.
For some reason, I've been reading a lot of books lately that touch on the theme of an absent father. I can't relate personally, but the way it was portrayed in Sparrow Road came across as very realistic to me. I could feel Raine's feelings, and it made sense—her longing, her hesitation, her anger, her anxiety. I'm glad she took me on the journey with her.
One special part for me was Diego coaching Raine through becoming a writer: the "what was or what could be." His advice was very solid, and I took it to heart. I think I'd have appreciated it even more had I read it when I was Raine's age and just becoming a serious writer myself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Dementia
Moderate: Alcohol and Addiction
librariandest's review against another edition
4.0
Things I liked:
1. The suspense of why Raine and her mother go to Sparrow Road for the summer. As I've said before, with everyday life fiction like this, it helps a lot to have some kind of mystery driving the plot and this really worked. Of course, the mystery is solved halfway through, but then you can kind of coast on the strength of the characters and relationships.
2. Raine's development as a writer. The way she asks herself questions like "What was and what will be?' and creates a character, Lyman, that's sort of like an imaginary friend. This book could really inspire kids to write and create art.
3. The writing was very solid. Pretty without being flowery. Raine had a distinct voice.
4. The meditations on being on orphan and what an orphanage is like. There are so many orphans in kid lit and I thought this book offered a very down-to-earth, sad, grounded look at something that, weirdly, can be kind of glamorized in fantasy novels.
1. The suspense of why Raine and her mother go to Sparrow Road for the summer. As I've said before, with everyday life fiction like this, it helps a lot to have some kind of mystery driving the plot and this really worked. Of course, the mystery is solved halfway through, but then you can kind of coast on the strength of the characters and relationships.
2. Raine's development as a writer. The way she asks herself questions like "What was and what will be?' and creates a character, Lyman, that's sort of like an imaginary friend. This book could really inspire kids to write and create art.
3. The writing was very solid. Pretty without being flowery. Raine had a distinct voice.
4. The meditations on being on orphan and what an orphanage is like. There are so many orphans in kid lit and I thought this book offered a very down-to-earth, sad, grounded look at something that, weirdly, can be kind of glamorized in fantasy novels.
mallorykjorgensen's review against another edition
4.0
This was an excellent book that touched some very real and very serious issues. The only factor that kept this from being a 5 star book was the character's voice. Though she was an excellent character, I felt that she wasn't believable as a 13 year old girl. She just seemed to mature. too well spoken.
wiseowl33's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the interesting characters and the family drama. Inspirational when she talked about the what ifs and the beauty of the landscape creating a desire to write. Wonderful story.
shighley's review against another edition
4.0
I'd read several good reviews of this book. I have to say, that when I finally finished it, I found it much more satisfying. I really felt like O'Connor laid the groundwork for the reader to sense how Raine had grown as a person during the summer. I generally like more plot-driven books, and I found it to be slow-going at times, but the overall effect is good.
I found myself wanting to skip ahead and felt a bit of suspense when it was going to be revealed who Raine's father was. (And I laughed out loud at the idea that it could be Viktor.)
The part about the spooky house and people who do not talk seemed to go by the wayside. I like how Diego and Josie opened up so many new things to Raine. Josie telling Raine that there is always room for more family and more love was very touching, as was the fact that Raine saw Diego as the first happy man she had met. That made me wonder: are there many children today that would say that as well?
Except for Eleanor (and that is somewhat explained), everyone in this book is basically nice; that is not an easy way to build a book. I talked about that with Richard Peck after I had read The Teacher's Funeral; everyone in that book also acted out of love.
I do wonder about my readers who will connect with this book, but it is well done.
I found myself wanting to skip ahead and felt a bit of suspense when it was going to be revealed who Raine's father was. (And I laughed out loud at the idea that it could be Viktor.)
The part about the spooky house and people who do not talk seemed to go by the wayside. I like how Diego and Josie opened up so many new things to Raine. Josie telling Raine that there is always room for more family and more love was very touching, as was the fact that Raine saw Diego as the first happy man she had met. That made me wonder: are there many children today that would say that as well?
Except for Eleanor (and that is somewhat explained), everyone in this book is basically nice; that is not an easy way to build a book. I talked about that with Richard Peck after I had read The Teacher's Funeral; everyone in that book also acted out of love.
I do wonder about my readers who will connect with this book, but it is well done.
julieh46's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.5