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couillac's review
4.0
Baskin's book perfectly captures that transition from the make-believe of childhood to a growing awareness of one's self in the larger world. Julia and Eliza have been best friends for as long as they can remember, knowing each other well enough to disappear into their imaginary worlds in an instant. But the real world has become a lot harder to ignore since Julia's mom was deployed to Iraq. Now they have the whole summer to spend together, but Julia is finding it more and more difficult to lose herself in their games, especially with her sudden interest in a certain boy.
I loved the way that Julia and Eliza's imaginary play was described, as if Julia could actually see the worlds taking shape, and how it became difficult to hold on to those visions with so many other things to think about. While Julia, the narrator, comes across as perhaps too maturely introspective at times, overall, Julia's gradual awakening is authentic and wonderfully written. It really took me back to that time in my own life, particularly the awkward disconnect between one's thoughts and one's ability to speak/act around boys of interest! I also appreciated that the story's climax was dramatic without being implausible.
Another whole topic is Julia's mom's deployment, and Julia's sessions with a counselor and the only other military kid in school (Peter). Baskin's treatment of the absence of a military parent was heart-wrenching, simply and carefully drawn through Julia's memories of moments with her parents before and during the deployment, and her interactions with Peter.
This book has a lot to offer. Definitely worth a read.
I loved the way that Julia and Eliza's imaginary play was described, as if Julia could actually see the worlds taking shape, and how it became difficult to hold on to those visions with so many other things to think about. While Julia, the narrator, comes across as perhaps too maturely introspective at times, overall, Julia's gradual awakening is authentic and wonderfully written. It really took me back to that time in my own life, particularly the awkward disconnect between one's thoughts and one's ability to speak/act around boys of interest! I also appreciated that the story's climax was dramatic without being implausible.
Another whole topic is Julia's mom's deployment, and Julia's sessions with a counselor and the only other military kid in school (Peter). Baskin's treatment of the absence of a military parent was heart-wrenching, simply and carefully drawn through Julia's memories of moments with her parents before and during the deployment, and her interactions with Peter.
This book has a lot to offer. Definitely worth a read.
colyjo's review
4.0
"It's not over completely. There are still moments when the magic is working. And there are moments when it doesn't, no matter how hard I want it to. And there are still moments when I get really mad for no reason, and I don't know why."
Bittersweet, 12-year-old Julia grows up.
Bittersweet, 12-year-old Julia grows up.
brightside878's review
3.0
I really liked the parts reflecting on Julia's feelings about her mother leaving to war, like the scenes with her and Peter. But I thought the "main" storyline, with Michael and Eliza, is a bit thin, I could see where it could have been fleshed out a bit more. But it was a good growing-up story. :)
bibliokris's review
4.0
Great characters--the sense of childhood & imagination, and trying to hold onto that--that's all very strong & poignant here. Some of it felt a little melodramatic, but that's how it must have felt to the characters...good writing and realistic characters/feelings/setting.
amdame1's review
2.0
Julia and Eliza have been best friends for forever. Oddly enough, they are also aunt and niece even though they are the same age. When Julia's mom is sent to serve in Iraq, she goes to live with Eliza for the summer. Both girls are really excited about this prospect as they always have fun playing imagination games together and just hanging out. But Julia's worry about her mom and the girls changing interests make this summer very different for them.
I really didn't think the games they played seemed very realistic - and even if they had been, it was too hard to distinguish when they were game-playing and when they weren't. (which may actually have been the author's intent, since the girls often got so wrapped up in them they couldn't tell the difference either). i never did relate to any of the characters...
However, the one really high point of this book is bringing attention to the needs and feelings and thought processes of children whose mothers (parents) have been sent to fight.
I really didn't think the games they played seemed very realistic - and even if they had been, it was too hard to distinguish when they were game-playing and when they weren't. (which may actually have been the author's intent, since the girls often got so wrapped up in them they couldn't tell the difference either). i never did relate to any of the characters...
However, the one really high point of this book is bringing attention to the needs and feelings and thought processes of children whose mothers (parents) have been sent to fight.
mrskatiefitz's review
5.0
It is 2004, Julia is 12 years old, and she is spending the summer with her much older sister, whose 12-year-old daughter, Eliza, is Julia's best friend. Julia's mother is a nurse in the National Guard, and she has been deployed to Iraq, so Julia spends much of her time missing her, and worrying about her safety. She also struggles with her changing friendship with Eliza. The girls once shared a wonderful world of make-believe, but, as she gets older, Julia finds it more and more difficult to pretend. As the summer wears on, Julia also encounters the first boy she's ever been interested in as more than a friend.
The entire story is set in the Hudson Valley region of New York State, and the girls spend much of their time at a fictional resort called Mohawk Mountain Resort. I recognized almost immediately that Mohawk is based on the real-life Mohonk Mountain House, where I happened to work one summer during college. Though Mohonk is never named, and the real-life village of New Paltz was called New Hope in this book, the details were unmistakable - and I was thrilled to delve into such a familiar setting. I recently moved away from the Hudson Valley, so seeing references to the Elting Memorial Library and to the city of Newburgh made me smile, and definitely made me like the book more than I would have if it had been set somewhere else.
There were many other strong points to this book, too, though. I really loved the author's exploration of all the emotions Julia experiences regarding her mother's deployment to Iraq. I thought Baskin handled a very timely issue in a very sensitive and real way. I also really liked the pacing and plotting of the book. I can't plot to save my life, which is half the reason I have such a hard time getting myself to sit down and write, so I'm always impressed when the events of a story unfold as smoothly and naturally as they do here.
My only complaint was that I always felt that the characters were at arm's length. Though Julia experienced a lot of ups and downs throughout the story, my reaction to them was from a distance. I didn't feel like I was ever quite inside Julia's head - rather, I was observing her almost like a scientist, charting her progress, but never really getting to know her. Despite that distance, though, there was a lot of great writing in this book. I'll end this review with one of my favorite passages:
The trees bent their heat-weary heads like puppy dogs lolling their tongues. We were so far from anything modern, nothing to remind us of the real world. The moss on the rocks, the dirt under our feet, the blue, blue sky above our heads could be from any time, any century, any world - when Indians lived, when fairies flew, when friends held hands and made believe. (p. 115)
Other similar "serious" tween novels that I have reviewed are As Simple As It Seems by Sarah Weeks (which is also set in upstate New York) and The Last Best Days of Summer by Valerie Hobbs.
The entire story is set in the Hudson Valley region of New York State, and the girls spend much of their time at a fictional resort called Mohawk Mountain Resort. I recognized almost immediately that Mohawk is based on the real-life Mohonk Mountain House, where I happened to work one summer during college. Though Mohonk is never named, and the real-life village of New Paltz was called New Hope in this book, the details were unmistakable - and I was thrilled to delve into such a familiar setting. I recently moved away from the Hudson Valley, so seeing references to the Elting Memorial Library and to the city of Newburgh made me smile, and definitely made me like the book more than I would have if it had been set somewhere else.
There were many other strong points to this book, too, though. I really loved the author's exploration of all the emotions Julia experiences regarding her mother's deployment to Iraq. I thought Baskin handled a very timely issue in a very sensitive and real way. I also really liked the pacing and plotting of the book. I can't plot to save my life, which is half the reason I have such a hard time getting myself to sit down and write, so I'm always impressed when the events of a story unfold as smoothly and naturally as they do here.
My only complaint was that I always felt that the characters were at arm's length. Though Julia experienced a lot of ups and downs throughout the story, my reaction to them was from a distance. I didn't feel like I was ever quite inside Julia's head - rather, I was observing her almost like a scientist, charting her progress, but never really getting to know her. Despite that distance, though, there was a lot of great writing in this book. I'll end this review with one of my favorite passages:
The trees bent their heat-weary heads like puppy dogs lolling their tongues. We were so far from anything modern, nothing to remind us of the real world. The moss on the rocks, the dirt under our feet, the blue, blue sky above our heads could be from any time, any century, any world - when Indians lived, when fairies flew, when friends held hands and made believe. (p. 115)
Other similar "serious" tween novels that I have reviewed are As Simple As It Seems by Sarah Weeks (which is also set in upstate New York) and The Last Best Days of Summer by Valerie Hobbs.
tashrow's review
5.0
Julia is spending the summer with Eliza, who is her age but is also her niece. Julia’s mother has been sent overseas with the National Guard and her father can’t watch Julia and work. So the two girls spend their summer together, often heading up to the hotel where Eliza’s father works. The friends spend a lot of time playing pretend, imagining that they are back in time when girls wore long dresses. But Julia is worried about her mother and the war. She has also discovered a boy named Michael who seems interested in her too. But pursuing Michael may mean leaving Eliza behind.
This is a book about changing from being a child to being a teen. Baskin perfectly captures that transition, that tension that is achingly real here. Her writing explores the changes, the new-sounding laughter of flirtation, the running both from and to boys at the same time, the loss of imagination, the setting aside of old priorities for new ones. She allows us to see the friendship of the two girls first as it always has been with a comfort, a shorthand, a natural ease. And then we watch it change before our eyes as one girl grows up faster than the other, and tensions begin to create cracks and shifts.
Julia is a beautifully crafted heroine who is honest, confused, and filled with a depth of feeling and awareness that makes the book so special. I enjoyed seeing the world change through Julia’s eyes rather than having it be Eliza, the one being left behind, who was the first person voice. And the ending, the ending! It is exactly what the book needed, what all of us who have left childhood behind need to remember. Lovely.
Highly recommended, this book is a stellar piece of tween fiction that captures that age with depth and beauty. Appropriate for ages 11-13.
This is a book about changing from being a child to being a teen. Baskin perfectly captures that transition, that tension that is achingly real here. Her writing explores the changes, the new-sounding laughter of flirtation, the running both from and to boys at the same time, the loss of imagination, the setting aside of old priorities for new ones. She allows us to see the friendship of the two girls first as it always has been with a comfort, a shorthand, a natural ease. And then we watch it change before our eyes as one girl grows up faster than the other, and tensions begin to create cracks and shifts.
Julia is a beautifully crafted heroine who is honest, confused, and filled with a depth of feeling and awareness that makes the book so special. I enjoyed seeing the world change through Julia’s eyes rather than having it be Eliza, the one being left behind, who was the first person voice. And the ending, the ending! It is exactly what the book needed, what all of us who have left childhood behind need to remember. Lovely.
Highly recommended, this book is a stellar piece of tween fiction that captures that age with depth and beauty. Appropriate for ages 11-13.
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