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nglofile's review against another edition
3.0
Would have rated higher but for unbelievably improbable twist.
tinyautomaton's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn't sure I was going to like this book so much, but it totally captured me, resulting in me staying up later than I should've because I had to read more.
One thing I really like about this book is that the author lets the little moments be. There are many times in the book where a character will do or say something that strikes you hard and leaves an imprint, but they aren't persued to death, which I found really nice.
The characters in this book are very well done. I actually got REALLY annoyed at Kirsten's mom whenever she did anything - I really couldn't stand her. And Brianna was just...oh my GOD, I couldn't stand her either. And I was so disappointed thay Rory didn't do anything, and I have to say, I don't think much of her either. This is a sign of a good writer, that her characters seem so real.
I think the tree in this book represents their family and how it was hurt and then managed to find a way to get better.
The title is very powerfull for me. I took it to mean two main things, but of course there are other interpretations.
What the title means to me:
a) The first is representing Kirsten and Walk's family, and how it seemed to fall and crash and what they do about it. Lunch period would kinda represent any normal time of day. Or it could specifically be their lunch period because many of the interactions that led up to the fall were during lunch period.
b) The second is more general. This book deals with screwed up "friendships" and racism and not feeling smart enough and family problems and people looking dumb on the outside when they're not on the inside and you name it, really. In some of the instances during lunch, and everywhere else as well, it seemed like nobody noticed the injustice and (here would be a nice place for a word that meant outrageous wrong stuff that sounded far more eloquent). It seemed to me that those moments were saying, "If a tree falls during lunch period...nobody's gonna notice." That's rather depressing, but that's how I took it. That the title was saying that moments like the ones in this book happen everywhere everyday, and they should be as obvious as a tree falling down right in the middle of things, but nobody seems to notice or care. Kinda like the elephant in the room or something.
So, this may be a book geared towards kids, but it's very powerfull and could speak to everyone.
Good day to you.
One thing I really like about this book is that the author lets the little moments be. There are many times in the book where a character will do or say something that strikes you hard and leaves an imprint, but they aren't persued to death, which I found really nice.
The characters in this book are very well done. I actually got REALLY annoyed at Kirsten's mom whenever she did anything - I really couldn't stand her. And Brianna was just...oh my GOD, I couldn't stand her either. And I was so disappointed thay Rory didn't do anything, and I have to say, I don't think much of her either. This is a sign of a good writer, that her characters seem so real.
I think the tree in this book represents their family and how it was hurt and then managed to find a way to get better.
The title is very powerfull for me. I took it to mean two main things, but of course there are other interpretations.
What the title means to me:
a) The first is representing Kirsten and Walk's family, and how it seemed to fall and crash and what they do about it. Lunch period would kinda represent any normal time of day. Or it could specifically be their lunch period because many of the interactions that led up to the fall were during lunch period.
b) The second is more general. This book deals with screwed up "friendships" and racism and not feeling smart enough and family problems and people looking dumb on the outside when they're not on the inside and you name it, really. In some of the instances during lunch, and everywhere else as well, it seemed like nobody noticed the injustice and (here would be a nice place for a word that meant outrageous wrong stuff that sounded far more eloquent). It seemed to me that those moments were saying, "If a tree falls during lunch period...nobody's gonna notice." That's rather depressing, but that's how I took it. That the title was saying that moments like the ones in this book happen everywhere everyday, and they should be as obvious as a tree falling down right in the middle of things, but nobody seems to notice or care. Kinda like the elephant in the room or something.
So, this may be a book geared towards kids, but it's very powerfull and could speak to everyone.
Good day to you.
wiseowl33's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVE Gennifer Choldenko! And this books was wonderful!
applej314's review against another edition
1.0
Ok, firstly, I hated this book. I read it several years ago and was scrolling through Goodreads when I saw it. My first thought was 'Oh, there's that book I can't stand'. I didn't like any of the characters except maybe Walk, Kirsten was irritating, and the big plot twist was completely ridiculous. I won't give away what is is except to hint that it is highly unlikely and extremely illogical. It wouldn't ever happen. So, yeah. Not one of my favorites, obviously.
courtneyb_70's review against another edition
4.0
Cliques; friendship; family dynamics; eating disorder
nrdespain's review against another edition
2.0
Very fast read. I like fast reads. The characters are unbelievable, though. Kirsten's mom is ridiculous and I can't believe a parent would ever say the things she says.
The way Choldenko writes about racism is just weird to me. It can come across as an offensive book, even though the author is trying to promote acceptance. I wouldn't let my kid read this, although it's technically junior fiction.
And I was thrown off by the way Kirsten's chapters are written in first person and Walk's are in third person. Ever heard of a little something called parallel structure?
The way Choldenko writes about racism is just weird to me. It can come across as an offensive book, even though the author is trying to promote acceptance. I wouldn't let my kid read this, although it's technically junior fiction.
And I was thrown off by the way Kirsten's chapters are written in first person and Walk's are in third person. Ever heard of a little something called parallel structure?
jeanwk's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to this one, and I loved the alternating voices of Kirstan and Walk. There is an amazing plot twist, which of course, I will not mention, that I was totally not prepared for. This story provided great food for thought on the topics of friendship, racism, teachers and parents, and handling conflict. I loved the descriptions of how the parents would meddle in their kids' relationships, and be way off base.
boleary30's review against another edition
3.0
Decent YA tale, even if it tries a little too hard to fit in many cliches
abigailbat's review against another edition
3.0
Alternately narrated by seventh graders Kirsten McKenna and her new classmate Walker Jones, this book tells the story of two kids struggling to fit in at their private school. Kirsten has gained weight since her parents started fighting all the time and now her best friend Rory has started hanging out with the popular girls she used to hate. Walk is one of three African American kids in the whole school and faces constant pressure to be perfect, lest one slipup cost him his scholarship. Kirsten and Walk meet accidentally on the first day of school, but neither of them would ever believe what would eventually bring them together.
Short chapters and alternating narrators kept me turning the pages. It was interesting to see the same issues seen through two very different sets of eyes with two very different world views. I didn't see the twist coming, though I thought it was believable once it came. Another book about finding your true friends and discovering that we're really all the same on the inside. I haven't heard any Newbery buzz about this one, but I wouldn't be surprised if it won a Newbery honor.
Readalike suggestions: This book really, really reminded me of The Cat Ate my Gymsuit by Paula Danziger.
Short chapters and alternating narrators kept me turning the pages. It was interesting to see the same issues seen through two very different sets of eyes with two very different world views. I didn't see the twist coming, though I thought it was believable once it came. Another book about finding your true friends and discovering that we're really all the same on the inside. I haven't heard any Newbery buzz about this one, but I wouldn't be surprised if it won a Newbery honor.
Readalike suggestions: This book really, really reminded me of The Cat Ate my Gymsuit by Paula Danziger.
jengennari's review against another edition
4.0
Great read-- realistic characters, and I liked that the parents didn't end up divorced. Their situation was a little more nuanced.