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goodem9199's review against another edition
3.0
Story about adolescence and race-relations with a twist I didn't see coming!
thebrainlair's review against another edition
5.0
If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko (2007)
4saradouglas's review against another edition
3.0
This sort of feels like a less well-written The Earth, My Butt, and Other Bit Round Things. Girl struggles with her weight as her family works through big issues stemming around her brother. Yep... very similar. The snobby girls were pretty realistic and I liked Matteo, but Walk and the main character Kirsten were just sort of there. And that's how I feel about this book... it's just sort of there.
dude_watchin_with_the_brontes's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. I thought Kirsten* was an incredibly realistic narrator.
I was a little thrown off by the narration style at first, because the audiobook has two readers, one for Kirsten and one for Walk, but Walk's story is told in 3rd person, so the first time Baptiste started reading, I kept waiting to find out who the "I" was, and it didn't come.
I loved a lot of the little realistic touches, like the poster in the school about celebrating diversity yet. Mr. Valderez* rocked my socks - he seemed like the teacher I aspire to be.
*Apologies if I mis-spell any names. I listened to an audiobook.
I was a little thrown off by the narration style at first, because the audiobook has two readers, one for Kirsten and one for Walk, but Walk's story is told in 3rd person, so the first time Baptiste started reading, I kept waiting to find out who the "I" was, and it didn't come.
I loved a lot of the little realistic touches, like the poster in the school about celebrating diversity yet
Spoiler
mostly only giving partial scholarships, so that the price was completely unattainable to all but the most privileged families*Apologies if I mis-spell any names. I listened to an audiobook.
rbreade's review against another edition
Two pov characters, Walk, an African-American who is new to the expensive, private school attended by the other character, Kirsten. Walk's chapters are third-person while Kirsten's are first, which kept me wondering during the whole book why the writer made this choice. The 3p gives somewhat more psychic distance between Walk's mind and the narrator, as opposed to the very intimate first, though the constant switch from third to first made it difficult to settle into a reading rhythm.
There are several subplots: Kirsten's best friend, Rory, starts the school year as a follower of wealthy mean girl, Brianna; interestingly, this doesn't change by the end of the novel--Rory is actually deeper in Brianna's camp than ever. Kirsten has gained weight as she sublimates her anxiety about her parents constant fighting, and what they've been fighting about--the knowledge, accidentally learned by Kirsten two-third's of the way through the book, that Walk is Kirsten's dad's love child--is set up on the first page.
Choldenko makes the bold decision to resolve almost nothing, instead only hinting at changes to come. That said, the ending does seem abrupt: a journal entry by Walk for a class assignment grappling with the "If a tree falls..." saying. Walk's answer is, Yes, it does still make a sound, and this stands for his life, Kirsten's life, anyone's life: they all matter, even if the life in question is far from the spotlight.
There are several subplots: Kirsten's best friend, Rory, starts the school year as a follower of wealthy mean girl, Brianna; interestingly, this doesn't change by the end of the novel--Rory is actually deeper in Brianna's camp than ever. Kirsten has gained weight as she sublimates her anxiety about her parents constant fighting, and what they've been fighting about--the knowledge, accidentally learned by Kirsten two-third's of the way through the book, that Walk is Kirsten's dad's love child--is set up on the first page.
Choldenko makes the bold decision to resolve almost nothing, instead only hinting at changes to come. That said, the ending does seem abrupt: a journal entry by Walk for a class assignment grappling with the "If a tree falls..." saying. Walk's answer is, Yes, it does still make a sound, and this stands for his life, Kirsten's life, anyone's life: they all matter, even if the life in question is far from the spotlight.
bookgirl4ever's review against another edition
4.0
Kirsten and Walk's lives intersect at a private school. Kirsten becomes an outcast and the victim of bullying by her once best friend and her new posse, while Walk is new on scholarship.
JHS/HS
JHS/HS
saidtheraina's review against another edition
3.0
Light, quick read which gently deals with some tough topics.
Told in alternate chapters - from first person perspective of Kirsten, then third person perspective inside Walk's head. At first I thought this was a worlds-collide story along the lines of "Perfect Chemistry" (which I haven't read yet, but have on hold), but it turns out not so much. I enjoyed seeing Walk's perspective of Kirsten (and upper-class white society in general). A little cliched, but plays with those stereotypes as well. There's a lot packed into this bouncy read. Some of the villains were a bit too villainous, but did soften a bit toward the end. I did appreciate that the "big secret" wasn't quite as cliched as you expect it to be. Kinda wish Choldenko's done first person for both characters, and wish the cover skewed a bit more androgynous so I could sell it more easily to boys. I love the Walk content.
And the more I think and talk about it, the more I like it. It's twisty in a way you don't expect.
And that is my scattered review for the day. ;)
Told in alternate chapters - from first person perspective of Kirsten, then third person perspective inside Walk's head. At first I thought this was a worlds-collide story along the lines of "Perfect Chemistry" (which I haven't read yet, but have on hold), but it turns out not so much. I enjoyed seeing Walk's perspective of Kirsten (and upper-class white society in general). A little cliched, but plays with those stereotypes as well. There's a lot packed into this bouncy read. Some of the villains were a bit too villainous, but did soften a bit toward the end. I did appreciate that the "big secret" wasn't quite as cliched as you expect it to be. Kinda wish Choldenko's done first person for both characters, and wish the cover skewed a bit more androgynous so I could sell it more easily to boys. I love the Walk content.
And the more I think and talk about it, the more I like it. It's twisty in a way you don't expect.
And that is my scattered review for the day. ;)
jacylane's review against another edition
4.0
Read this as part of a Literature Circle with a 5th grader at work.
minty's review against another edition
3.0
sweet little book, not great, but not bad, especially since i read it all in one day. more interesting than other books that are just like it, but not that much different than others of its ilk to stand out.
emma_the_greatest's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75