Booklist starred (March 15, 2010 (Vol. 106, No. 14))
Grades 2-5. Ms. Mirabel, a visiting poet, works with a fourth-grade class over several weeks as they first discuss why people write poetry and then attempt to express themselves in verse. “I, myself, write to change my life, to make it come out the way I want it to,” states Ms. Mirabel and thus, she becomes a catalyst for the students’ growing awareness in writing and gives them a means to cope with changes in their lives. Narrator Lucy, whose mother is recovering from cancer treatments, often meets her friends to talk about their hopes, their fears, their families, and their charismatic poetry mentor. Children reading the book may long for such friends, who talk so openly about serious matters, support each other in direct and indirect ways, and find plenty to laugh about, too. As the story draws to a close, even the adults in their lives are drawn into the magical power of words. Showing great respect for both her readers and her craft, Newbery Award winner MacLachlan makes every word count in Lucy’s smooth-flowing, economical narrative. Though a number of characters cry along the way, the story is anything but sad, and even poignant is too soppy an adjective for the swift, subtle depiction of characters’ realizations, revelations, and connections. A memorable chapter book.
If you have felt the magic that Love That Dog by Sharon Creech casts over young audiences, then Word After Word After Word is a great book for you to experience with your class. This book is a unique depiction of how most children don't consider themselves "writers" and then find, through the mentoring of a special teacher, that they can use the magic of words to express happiness, sorrow, fear, anger and many more emotions that perplex children in their journey of growing up. It is a treat for you and your students to share.
Posted by Liz Stafford
No comments:
Post a Comment