The first was this one, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.
I must first confess that, based on the cover, I thought Stargirl was a midgrade novel. So, when, in the first few sentences I heard John Ritter read to me that Leo the main character was entering 11th grade, I thought, huh. Really?
I loved this book for so many reasons. It is a tight, tense, yet QUIET story. And totally rocked my world! Stargirl joins many other great characters in my "GO YOUR OWN WAY" HALL OF FAME. Now, must read the sequel.
Next up on my drive was this one, Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse.
Don't judge this one by its cover, which doesn't do justice to the vibrancy of this story... yes, bad things happen in this book, but it is infused with hope. I was enchanted by Vera's voice and left the story wanting MORE. Which, happily, the audio version provided, in an interview of one of the Aleuts who actually experienced the evacuation during WWII. Books like this one are why I write historical fiction.
i cant do audio books - my auditory skills are null. i come out of a daze and relalize im 1/2 way in and have no clue. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI think STARGIRL should be required reading for middle school students. It's a beautiful book and I've given the novel as a gift many times. Irene, i hope you get a chance to read LOVE, STARGIRL. It's the rest of the story told from STARGIRL'S perspective.
ReplyDeleteSarah R.