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vera_the_waffle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
inspiring
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
4.0
sweetpotatosamm's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was one of my first heavy books read as a child.
bekcat's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
analyticalchaos's review against another edition
3.0
It was pretty charming, I think it's great historical fiction for middle grade.
motherbird76's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
4.0
Chosen for prompt “musical instrument on cover. Nice story. Can’t believe I’d never read it.
andreatypesbraille's review against another edition
3.0
Completed for work.
It was fine, there were parts that were funny (hello vampire bat and fishhead guards, nor will I look at a Ticonderoga pencil the same way again), and plenty of passages that were heartfelt, but the middle seemed so draggy, and the ending was predictable.
I appreciate the historical points-the Depression era food lines, the racism, men trying to ride the rails of trains to travel the country, families living in "Hoovervilles", workers trying to bring unions into their area. I think the author may have attempted to cram too many historical facts into the story. It was a bit scattered and there was no driving factor to the plot.
I liked how this was told from the perspective of Bud, even some of the spelling throughout the book reflects that perspective. However, Bud doesn't seems to just float through the first half of the story--the foster home to sleeping under a tree, to trying to ride the trains. I found it to be a slightly frustrating read as I was left wondering, "So what?"
It was fine, there were parts that were funny (hello vampire bat and fishhead guards, nor will I look at a Ticonderoga pencil the same way again), and plenty of passages that were heartfelt, but the middle seemed so draggy, and the ending was predictable.
I appreciate the historical points-the Depression era food lines, the racism, men trying to ride the rails of trains to travel the country, families living in "Hoovervilles", workers trying to bring unions into their area. I think the author may have attempted to cram too many historical facts into the story. It was a bit scattered and there was no driving factor to the plot.
I liked how this was told from the perspective of Bud, even some of the spelling throughout the book reflects that perspective. However, Bud doesn't seems to just float through the first half of the story--the foster home to sleeping under a tree, to trying to ride the trains. I found it to be a slightly frustrating read as I was left wondering, "So what?"
zpitts's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0