This is an excellent book. I especially liked that Mattie had a "word of the day" and even while working would ponder that word, coming up with all sorts of new ideas. Eventually, of course, Mattie thinks the unthinkable:
"Jezzum ... What if God was a woman? Would the pope be out of a job? Would the president be a woman, too? And the governor? And the sheriff? And when people got married, would the man have to honor and obey? Would only the women be allowed to vote? Emily Baxter's poems made my head hurt. They made me think of so many questions and possibilities" (p. 208).I rated the book 9 of 10, an excellent book. It received the Printz Award for excellence in YA literature, as you can see on the cover. Here's my review from a couple of years ago. (SPOILER: The comments say perhaps a bit too much, if you haven't read the book.)
I've heard good things about this one, my library colleague really enjoyed it. I also hope to one day read her book Revolution.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book!
ReplyDeleteHelen, I haven't read Revolution, but I do think you would enjoy this one.
ReplyDeleteAlison, so did I.
Beth Kephart, the author of several memoirs and books of YA fiction, has just read this book and wrote about it on her blog yesterday (which is why I went back to find my review). I like what she says about one character:
Weaver, an African American adolescent. Weaver has much to say, and Donnelly, wisely, gives him room—to be smart, to be angry, to be hopeful, to be Mattie's truest friend. Boy-girl friendships that are honest and meaningful and yet not tinged with erotic desire are so rare in books, and especially rare in young adult literature, and so I was happy to spend some time on this warm weekend making this acquaintance.
http://beth-kephart.blogspot.com/2012/08/adding-two-new-books-to-my-scattershot.html
I have this one on my shelf because I love this author. I need to find the time to read it!
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