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ckeithjohnson's review against another edition
5.0
My class absolutely loved this book as a read aloud. It covered a lot of content and was helpful in moving the needle of understanding multiple times. The students really related to Maks and his family's struggles with finances, even though they could not understand anyone being that poor.
Great book all around.
Great book all around.
thebrainlair's review
4.0
Can't believe I didn't like this one when I first tried it back in Dec of 2011. Must have been the time of year and I was just done. Once I got pulled into the story it was hard to put down. It was dark and gritty and gave insight into New York in the 1890s. Recommended.
librariandest's review
3.0
I will always think of this book as The Story that Lacked Pronouns. None of the kids in this book use personal pronouns when they talk about themselves. To give you an idea of what this is like, I will now write my review in the style of Maks...
Liked it okay. Thought it lagged a little in places, but was fun. Wasn't impressed by the audiobook narrator-- the mug read without really seeming comfortable with the rhythm of the language. Know that Avi is a great writer, so of course it's good, but not up there with Charlotte Doyle.
Liked it okay. Thought it lagged a little in places, but was fun. Wasn't impressed by the audiobook narrator-- the mug read without really seeming comfortable with the rhythm of the language. Know that Avi is a great writer, so of course it's good, but not up there with Charlotte Doyle.
boffybeau's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
lorathelibrarian's review
4.0
I did not expect the awesome mystery this book had. It was so awesome because it was solvable. And when kids read books, it's great when they realize they can figure out what's going on and solve the mystery! So that was just a lovely bonus.
I originally picked up this book to booktalk for teachers. I was pairing fiction and nonfiction titles and I chose "Shutting Out the Sky" by Deborah Hopkinson about tenements and immigrants in the early 1900s in New York City. This Avi book was the perfect match for it. Avi really did describe the tenements and the dirt and famine and extreme poor conditions that people suffered then quite well. Yet with that mysterious element, and great character development this book became fantastic.
I originally picked up this book to booktalk for teachers. I was pairing fiction and nonfiction titles and I chose "Shutting Out the Sky" by Deborah Hopkinson about tenements and immigrants in the early 1900s in New York City. This Avi book was the perfect match for it. Avi really did describe the tenements and the dirt and famine and extreme poor conditions that people suffered then quite well. Yet with that mysterious element, and great character development this book became fantastic.
mhlackman's review
Good story for children, probably ages 10+. Really enjoyed it. Historical fiction!