Tag Archive for: Middle Grade

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Wonder

WonderTitle: Wonder
Author: R.J. Palacio
Series: Wonder #1
Genre: Contemporary, Middle Grade
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 320
Reason Read: Book Club
Rating:

My Thoughts

I had no idea what WONDER was about when I first started reading it. I had heard so many good things about it and I agree with all of them. It was one of the best books I’ve ever read. It has so much good in it and I think everyone should read it–both kids and adults.

I don’t think I’ve cried more reading a book than I did with this one. And, I cried all different kinds of tears. Sad ones, happy ones, shocked ones, confused ones, and mad ones. I felt every emotion while reading this book.

I liked that Auggie’s story was told from different POVs. I appreciated more POVs than others. I loved being in Auggie’s head because, of course, only through him can you know what it’s like to be him. I also loved being in Summer’s and Jack’s heads because they were Auggie’s best friends at school. I also liked being in Vi’s head and hearing what life was like to have a brother like Auggie. Justin’s and Miranda’s POVs were just kind of meh to me. My edition also had the bonus POV from Julian and I’m really glad I got to read his for different reasons than the others.

Auggie was an inspiration to me. He took everything in stride. He had his moments like any person would, but he was so positive and so forgiving. I love that the main take away from this story is to be kind.

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The Little Prince

The Little PrinceTitle: The Little Prince
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Genre: Classic, Fantasy, Middle Grade
Format: Kindle
Pages: 65
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:

My Thoughts

I first read LE PETIT PRINCE in 1997 as part of the curriculum for my college French class. Even though I had previously taken four years of French in high school, I’ll admit I didn’t understand much when I read this story. Many of the French words were ones I had never encountered. And, unfortunately, I had missed the point and charm of the story. For nearly 20 years, I’ve said I disliked THE LITTLE PRINCE, thinking it was weird and idiotic. I decided I needed to give it a fair chance and read it in my native tongue.

I liked THE LITTLE PRINCE much better in English, only because I understood its nuances more. However, because I’m a very literal person, the symbolism was a little lost on me. And, I still don’t appreciate it nearly as much as I probably should.

My favorite character the little prince encountered was the fox. It’s because I love animals and I can relate to their friendship. I understand the meaning and responsibility behind taming as I’ve tamed many animals and almost every animal I’ve ever come in contact with has tamed me, leaving me sad when we part.

I wish I had read this as a child, or at least had it read to me as a child. I think I would’ve appreciated it more then. I wouldn’t be a grownup who only sees a hat instead of a snake who swallowed an elephant. Although, I’ll admit I did know it was a snake from the context but I didn’t know he had eaten an elephant. I thought it was the animal in the previous picture. Does this mean I’m still a grownup but maybe with childlike tendencies? Or, would the narrator and little prince still think of me just as a grownup?

Anyway, I’m really glad I gave THE LITTLE PRINCE another go. It was definitely a more pleasant experience and I can now at least appreciate it and read it more than 1 star.

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Through The Looking-Glass

Through The Looking-GlassTitle: Through the Looking-Glass
Author: Lewis Carroll
Series: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland #2
Genre: Classic, Fantasy, Middle Grade
Format: Kindle
Pages: 192
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:

Also in this series: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
My Thoughts

Just like with ALICE’S ADVENTRUES IN WONDERLAND, I thought THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS was a discombobulated book of nonsense.

I didn’t have high hopes going into this because of my experience with the first book. Because of that, I wasn’t too disappointed, but I still didn’t enjoy it. Alice still went off on unnecessary tangents, nothing was coherent, and nothing she did made any sense. I thought this one was even more confusing than the first one, which is saying something.

The only thing I liked about this one were the backwards letters on everything and the “Jabberwocky” poem. I think it’s neat that Carroll coined the terms galumph and chortle. I also thought that having everything take place on a chessboard was neat, except that it didn’t add anything to the story because the reader couldn’t follow the game.

The one thing I did learn from reading both of these books is that most adaptations to these stories mix the two together. For example, in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, the talking flowers, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and the Walrus and the Carpenter tale are all in THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS not ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND.

Even though I didn’t enjoy these pretty much at all, I’m glad I took the opportunity to read them. If for nothing else just to familiarize myself with them and get a foundation in the cannon of Alice and her adventures.

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Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland

Alice’s Adventures In WonderlandTitle: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Author: Lewis Carroll
Series: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland #1
Genre: Classic, Fantasy, Middle Grade
Format: Kindle
Pages: 96
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:

Also in this series: Through the Looking-Glass
My Thoughts

This is the first time I’ve ever read this classic story. I’ve been somewhat familiar with ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND because of the numerous movie adaptations. However, I was never versed in the original written story. I was expecting a fun, whimsical tale about Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. Instead, what I read was a discombobulated book of nonsense.

I tried to like this book. I really did. But there were only very few parts that Carroll actually showed and not told. I now understand the importance of that writing rule. All the telling was boring. Also, Alice was always off on some tangent that had nothing to do with the story. It just made me hate her and how she went about things. Alice cannot be seven years old. She acted more like a teenager or even an adult than a child.

I liked the idea of the story–a young girl somehow finding herself trapped in a world she doesn’t understand, meeting curious creatures and people, and then finding out that it’s all a dream. If only the execution were better. Nothing was coherent and there was no rhyme or reason to anything.

My favorite part of the story was Carroll’s description of the Queen of Hearts’ court. I loved that he didn’t just come out and say that everyone was part of a pack of cards until he gave you a visualization of it all. And, I loved that the different suits meant different things. It was fun and it made those characters come alive for the short time they were there. I wish the rest of the book were like this.

I’m not too excited to read THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS, but I’m still going to read it. Hopefully, I’ll like it better than this one, but I don’t have high hopes.

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The Two Princesses Of Bamarre

The Two Princesses Of BamarreTitle: The Two Princesses of Bamarre
Author: Gail Carson Levine
Series: Two Princesses of Bamarre #1
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade
Format: Paperback
Pages: 272
Reason Read: Recommended
Rating:

My Thoughts

After I read ELLA ENCHANTED and loved it, I wanted to read some of Levine’s other books. THE TWO PRINCESSES OF BAMARRE was recommended to me so I decided to read it.

I enjoyed ELLA ENCHANTED a little more because I like Ella more than Addie. I also liked Char more than Rhys because Ella and Char’s relationship was more throughout the whole story than Addie and Rhys’ was. I did like the little bit of romance that was in this story.

I really liked how fiercely loyal and close the sisters were. It made me wish I had a relationship like that with one of my sisters. I also loved how shy, fearful little Addie found herself in the story and finally realized she was brave and could accomplish hard things.