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lucidstyle's review against another edition
4.0
Bear through the slow start of this book, and you will be rewarded. The portrayal of a pigeon's life through his own eyes reveals a culturally particular outlook. Thematic elements are didactic yet powerful, especially coming from a foreign voice of the 1920s. This book presents lessons in perspective that are appropriate and necessary for children (of all ages!).
sqeeker's review against another edition
2.0
- There were some interesting moments, but mostly I was really bored.
- When the pigeon would tell the story, it was kinda weird. I didn't like that the perspectives would change.
- These books from the 1920s are slow going.
- When the pigeon would tell the story, it was kinda weird. I didn't like that the perspectives would change.
- These books from the 1920s are slow going.
goodbetterbetsy's review
3.0
I picked up this book because during our first Newbery Club meeting at the library, I had a couple kids ask if I had read it. I had not so I decided I should. It was better than I expected. I don't usually like animal books all that much (especially if they get hurt - not a spoiler, it's on the back). However, this was a pleasant surprise. We follow the life of Gay-Neck the pigeon from birth through his service in the war. The narrator is a child, living in India, but we never learn his name. Gay-Neck is definitely the main character and even narrates sometimes. The story gives a lot of insight into the life of birds and carrier pigeons. I found it was quite interesting, although I it did seem to really start to drag part way through.
Recommended for those who like animal stories, Newbery books, and like a little bit of factual information mixed in with their fiction.
Recommended for those who like animal stories, Newbery books, and like a little bit of factual information mixed in with their fiction.
crystal_reading's review against another edition
3.0
1928 Newbery Award - I liked this animal book better than Smoky, but still not enough to say I REALLY liked it. This one moved along a lot faster and I appreciated the cultural information in it, but I still don't find that this is really a book for children.
sonshinelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This is super interesting - not only a story of a pigeon but of the boy who owned him, his culture, and a war story as well. It wasn't what I was expecting but in a good way.
plaidpladd's review against another edition
2.0
This book was bizarre. It says it's the story of a pigeon in the title, but somehow it still surprised me how deep we went into PIGEON LORE lol. Another extremely weird choice from the 1920s Newberry committee
kibbles15's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, War, and Animal death
llkendrick's review against another edition
1.0
This was the 1928 Newbery Honor Winner. I really wanted to like this book and it started off ok, it just got boring pretty quick and continued being boring. I thought that when the book was going to discuss the use of carrier pigeons in WWI would be interesting, but it wasn't. At least not how they talked about it in this book. I can't imagine any child liking this book, especially with the name of the title. Joe teased me mercilessly about reading a book about "gay necks", and he's an adult. So I can only imagine what teasing kids would do!