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katieproctorbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe 4.5 :) this was super cute and fun, even though it was set in the Great Depression. I learned a lot about Key West!
margeryb's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook, and it has a very good narrator. I liked his voices for the characters. (Often that's a make or break for me.)
Full of Beans is a wonderful piece of historical fiction for kids. It works so well because it absolutely immerses the reader in the time and place of the story: Key West during the Great Depression. This is a piece of history most readers will not be familiar with, as I was not familiar with it either, about the New Dealers taking over this rundown town where everyone is out of work and the trash is piling up because they can't even afford municipal services and trying to save it by turning it into a tourists resort.
However, the history is a backdrop to true focus of the story, the kid characters, especially our main character, Beans and his fun, slice-of-life, coming of age story.
When I was a child, historical-fiction was very popular with the American Girl doll books, the Royal Diaries, and other. Nowadays, judging from the requests I get at my library, that's not really the case. I get asked for more funny stories, school stories, "real-life" stories (as opposed to fantasy/sci-fi). A lot of the children I work with really like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries, and the works of Raina Telegemeier. I think Full of Beans crossed over into that genre a little bit that that I really could see selling this book to the child who are fans of the ones listed below and have them really like it.
This is the second Jennifer L Holm book I've read and the second one I've really enjoyed and could totally see kids loving too.
Full of Beans is a wonderful piece of historical fiction for kids. It works so well because it absolutely immerses the reader in the time and place of the story: Key West during the Great Depression. This is a piece of history most readers will not be familiar with, as I was not familiar with it either, about the New Dealers taking over this rundown town where everyone is out of work and the trash is piling up because they can't even afford municipal services and trying to save it by turning it into a tourists resort.
However, the history is a backdrop to true focus of the story, the kid characters, especially our main character, Beans and his fun, slice-of-life, coming of age story.
When I was a child, historical-fiction was very popular with the American Girl doll books, the Royal Diaries, and other. Nowadays, judging from the requests I get at my library, that's not really the case. I get asked for more funny stories, school stories, "real-life" stories (as opposed to fantasy/sci-fi). A lot of the children I work with really like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries, and the works of Raina Telegemeier. I think Full of Beans crossed over into that genre a little bit that that I really could see selling this book to the child who are fans of the ones listed below and have them really like it.
This is the second Jennifer L Holm book I've read and the second one I've really enjoyed and could totally see kids loving too.
savoringstories's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
4.5
lbailey's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars, great historical fiction tale of how a bunch of kids helped the New Dealers revive and restore a depression era Key West.
heathersbike's review against another edition
Fun way to learn a bit about the depression.
afro8921's review
4.0
Wonderful book about the transformation that happened in Key West! Beans was such a lovable character! He's flawed like all people but he has his good traits as well. This is a great book for any tween who has younger siblings.
miacsteer1's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jtlars7's review against another edition
3.0
Audiobook. Good. Beans is a fun character, and I enjoyed getting a little Key West history along the way. I liked this better than Turtle in Paradise, in which Beans is a supporting character.