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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
I was supposed to read this book for a college class, but ended up only reading the last few chapters. I greatly enjoyed reading the full story. I like how clear Bud's voice is throughout the novel - it truly feels like a 10 year old is talking. It is interesting to read how he understood and dealt with the different situations he encountered. I also really liked that he only referred to skin color when talking about white people, since so often authors and characters only refer to skin color when talking about black people or other people of color.
Being a Michigander, it was also cool to be reading about locations and cities I am familiar with.
Being a Michigander, it was also cool to be reading about locations and cities I am familiar with.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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:
Complicated
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
This was one of my first heavy books read as a child.
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
It was pretty charming, I think it's great historical fiction for middle grade.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
Chosen for prompt “musical instrument on cover. Nice story. Can’t believe I’d never read it.
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?"