This is what I have to say about Sharon Creech's WALK TWO MOONS:
- The first chapter is the best first chapter I have ever read.
- The ending was (gulp) amazing. I stood in my kitchen holding my baby, reading with tears dripping off my chin. The ending floored me. I've never been so astonished by an ending in my life. It's like Sharon Creech looked right at me and said, "Gotcha."
Here's the Amazon review:
Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle's mother has disappeared. While tracing her steps on a car trip from Ohio to Idaho with her grandparents, Salamanca tells a story to pass the time about a friend named Phoebe Winterbottom whose mother vanished and who received secret messages after her disappearance. One of them read, "Don't judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins." Despite her father's warning that she is "fishing in the air," Salamanca hopes to bring her home. By drawing strength from her Native American ancestry, she is able to face the truth about her mother.
**I know I've been posting a lot of book reviews lately. I guess that's what happens when you glut yourself with good books!
Oh my gosh! I can't believe you JUST read that! I have been in love with that book since I was in 3rd grade!
ReplyDeleteSo just a day or two ago my youngest pulled a book out of her backpack and said, "So this is the one that goes after WALK TWO MOONS. I still haven't read it yet, because I want to read WALK TWO MOONS first." (She'd received a gift card to Barnes & Noble for Christmas and picked out two Sharon Creech books, whom she loves, but WTM wasn't there, so she bought the one that goes with it.) You just confirmed that I need to get to the bookstore and buy that for her already!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it! ;)
Jessica
Walk Two Moons sounds wonderful! I'll have to put it on my wish list...
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, Amy!
That sounds awesome! I'm definitely going to have to check that out.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was student teaching, I wrote a thematic unit for Walk Two Moons and used it every year. My students always loved that unit. Salamanca and Gram and Gramps have a huge place in my heart. : )
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you liked it, too.
Isn't it wonderful? I feel it should be read multiple times by every writer hoping to write a meaningful mg story. Just the structure alone is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI've read that aloud to at least two fifth grade classes. They've always hung on every word . . .
ReplyDeleteBut the best was the time I lost my hearing for a while (perforated ear drum) and scheduled other teachers and guests to come read to my fifth graders: the head principal (and you know who he is, Amy!) ended up reading the "make-out scene" (as he later deemed it) on the roof. I will never forget the looks he gave me over the book . . . I think he would have liked some warning. Oops. My bad. :)
What an amazing review. How can I not read that book after your recommendation?
ReplyDeleteWow, what a wonderful review. I've heard of WALK TWO MOONS, of course, but (gulp) I haven't read it, either. I'll have to remedy that.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I gave you an award on my blog this morning!