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gmamartha's review
3.0
The moon is always there... and Joe depends on that. This tale is of a small family who sees what is best for them and has the courage to follow that. Natalie Babbitt's writing describes the emotions, setting, and characters so we can see them for ourselves.
I'm thinking that adults will appreciate this one more than kids will. But I'll see.
I'm thinking that adults will appreciate this one more than kids will. But I'll see.
kelseyglamour's review
4.0
Joe visits his Aunt Myra in Midville during the summer. He finds friendship with Beatrice, a next door neighbor. A very rich manufacturer in the town meets Joe and decides to adopt him and groom him to run the factory. Joe must decide whether to pursue riches or pursue his dream of studying the moon.
The Moon Over High Street would be appropriate for readers between ten and twelve years old. It contains themes of friendship, family and the importance of personal ambitions over money. The conflict is not well developed and readers may feel a sense of let down. I expected the rich manufacturer to pursue nefarious means to adopt Joe or Joe to have a much harder time deciding which course to pursue.
The Moon Over High Street would be appropriate for readers between ten and twelve years old. It contains themes of friendship, family and the importance of personal ambitions over money. The conflict is not well developed and readers may feel a sense of let down. I expected the rich manufacturer to pursue nefarious means to adopt Joe or Joe to have a much harder time deciding which course to pursue.
rebelbelle13's review
3.0
I've noticed some things about Babbitt's novels after reading a few of them; they are short, to the point, usually read like a fable or morality tale, deal with coming of age, and the symbolism is so obvious and so in your face, she might as well have painted it in red across the pages. Now, I understand that these books are for 10-12 year olds. But kids are smart. They pick up on things. You don't need to spell it out for them. This book is about choosing family over money, and discovering that money can't buy everything. That's really it. Again, the novel is too short to really delve into characters and motivations, so it seems silly that Anson meets Joe one time and wants to adopt him. Given time, and character development, these books would be so much better. Babbitt's ideas are great, but as my 6th grade English teacher used to say, "Flesh it out. Tell me more." Her characters are interesting individuals, though, and I really wish we could have seen more of them. If you're looking for a brief, cute little story about family, this is it, but be aware, it's not much else.
ctiner7's review
4.0
I found this book to be rather dull and boring, but it has a good lesson for younger kids.
wiseowl33's review
2.0
A bit bland would be my explanation. I had huge expectations as I LOVE Natalie Babbitt's books, but this was just a quiet little story. It will be hard to find the right kid to suggest this to.
alissabar's review
I was happy to win this as a Goodreads giveaway but never received it in the mail. When I get ahold of a copy of it, I'll have to give it a try.
quietjenn's review
2.0
Hey, remember that episode of "The Simpsons" where Mr. Burns adopts Bart, because he thinks he's going to die soon? This is sort of like that, only, not as good. Because at least Mr. Burns had a good reason for adopting Bart, something more compelling than "Hey, kid that I just met. You are polite and your parents are dead. Also, your last name is Polish, so I think I want to adopt you." Um, really? Very random, not at all convincing. Nor was quite a bit of other stuff here. Overall, I think the best word to describe this book is "sketchy," in many senses of the word. Unoriginal and forgettable work, too.
Is that too harsh? Points for, er, an Ohio setting, which always make my Buckeye heart go pitter-patter. And I do think that, had the premise/town/characters been properly developed, it would've made for a nice little outing. Alas.
Oh! Also! Totally not Babbitt's responsibility, but: that is some might bad jacket copy. It's probably petty to mention that, but it irked me incredibly. Somebody should get called to the office for that one.
Is that too harsh? Points for, er, an Ohio setting, which always make my Buckeye heart go pitter-patter. And I do think that, had the premise/town/characters been properly developed, it would've made for a nice little outing. Alas.
Oh! Also! Totally not Babbitt's responsibility, but: that is some might bad jacket copy. It's probably petty to mention that, but it irked me incredibly. Somebody should get called to the office for that one.
kittarlin's review
2.0
Ho hum. Very well written, but perhaps not terribly engaging to anyone over 12.
benedorm's review
1.0
Anton Boulderwall is an aging inventor and factory owner who lives in the best house on High Street, the fanciest thoroughfare in Midville, Ohio. Myra Casimir is a schoolteacher who also lives in Midville, but in a much more proletarian neighborhood. And Joe Casimir is a boy who comes to stay with Myra, his distant relative, while his grandmother is recovering from a broken hip, only to find himself the unlikely focal point of Midville's class tensions. Mr. Boulderwall wants to adopt Joe and leave him the factory -- but this would require Joe to move to High Street and turn his back on his dreams of becoming a scientist who studies the moon.
It's all fine as far as a setup goes, a sort of more fraught take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or something of that nature. However, the execution leaves a fair amount to be desired. The theme of rich vs. working class (no one in the book is really "poor") is hammered into the ground by the dialogue and narration, and especially by Mrs. Boulderwall, a humorless shrew who exists largely to make derogatory statements about Joe such as "He's just not our kind of people" and "He's nothing but hired help to me." Even the book's title is less an indication of the setting than an unsubtle hint as to the direction in which Joe finally chooses to go. And, though Joe is the one who makes the decision, he's not the one who tells Mr. Boulderwall -- that falls to Gran, in a scene in which she and Mr. Boulderwall spend six pages trading cliches while the nominal hero of the book is offstage.
Although Mr. Boulderwall appears displeased with the result of that conversation, it's hard to see why. Mr. Boulderwall seems to have little interest in Joe as a person -- he likes Joe because of their shared Polish ancestry, and he finds it convenient that Joe's parents aren't living, but that's about it. Frankly, I found the section in which he insists that Mrs. Boulderwall set up another meeting with Joe without giving her any reason other than "I just want to see that boy again" more than a little creepy. However, Myra isn't a whole lot better; she tells Joe flat out that she sees him as some sort of substitute for the fiancee she lost in the Korean war, a man also named Joe. Only Beatrice, the girl next door, seems to have an interest in Joe that's based on anything internal to him.
Natalie Babbitt is, of course, a well-known figure in the world of children's literature; Tuck Everlasting is a minor classic, and Knee-Knock Rise won a Newbery Honor in 1971. I think this book will get a long look because of its author's track record -- many people had high hopes for it -- but I don't anticipate it showing up on any end-of-year shortlists or placing for any of the major awards.
It's all fine as far as a setup goes, a sort of more fraught take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or something of that nature. However, the execution leaves a fair amount to be desired. The theme of rich vs. working class (no one in the book is really "poor") is hammered into the ground by the dialogue and narration, and especially by Mrs. Boulderwall, a humorless shrew who exists largely to make derogatory statements about Joe such as "He's just not our kind of people" and "He's nothing but hired help to me." Even the book's title is less an indication of the setting than an unsubtle hint as to the direction in which Joe finally chooses to go. And, though Joe is the one who makes the decision, he's not the one who tells Mr. Boulderwall -- that falls to Gran, in a scene in which she and Mr. Boulderwall spend six pages trading cliches while the nominal hero of the book is offstage.
Although Mr. Boulderwall appears displeased with the result of that conversation, it's hard to see why. Mr. Boulderwall seems to have little interest in Joe as a person -- he likes Joe because of their shared Polish ancestry, and he finds it convenient that Joe's parents aren't living, but that's about it. Frankly, I found the section in which he insists that Mrs. Boulderwall set up another meeting with Joe without giving her any reason other than "I just want to see that boy again" more than a little creepy. However, Myra isn't a whole lot better; she tells Joe flat out that she sees him as some sort of substitute for the fiancee she lost in the Korean war, a man also named Joe. Only Beatrice, the girl next door, seems to have an interest in Joe that's based on anything internal to him.
Natalie Babbitt is, of course, a well-known figure in the world of children's literature; Tuck Everlasting is a minor classic, and Knee-Knock Rise won a Newbery Honor in 1971. I think this book will get a long look because of its author's track record -- many people had high hopes for it -- but I don't anticipate it showing up on any end-of-year shortlists or placing for any of the major awards.
booksandbosox's review
2.0
http://librarianosnark.blogspot.com/2012/03/review-moon-over-high-street.html