kiddieliter

 My Mom introduces me to this book when I was younger and I loved it, so I decided to post about it.

Twelve-year-old Larkin lives with her mom and dad on an island year round. The story opens at the end of summer, as the last summer ferry carries the vacationers away until the next summer.  At almost a year old, baby Sophie has been left by her mother with a note telling the family that “I will come back for her one day.” With the families loss, Sophie becomes someone the family grows to love as their own.

As the family takes in Sophie, she is exposed to the pain surrounding the loss of Larkin’s newborn brother, “Baby,” six months before. Larkin’s parents never talk about him and never even named him.  The story continues as Larkin’s family grown to love Sophie but fear the day when her mother will return and they will become hurt all over again. During the story, Larkin discovers poetry and through this Larkin and her family find their way back from loss and pain. 

      Andrew and his dad have an unusual “home” in the local airport. Dad days, “It’s better than the streets.” But, Andrew cannot help but hope that his life will return to how it once was; when he and Dad had a real place of their own. This beautifully illustrated book is a heartwrenching story that unfortunately could be right off the nightly news. However, the true value of the book is the underlying story it tells about what really  constitutes ”home” and the power of love and family.

This is a good Newbery medal winner that is about four sixth grade students, and their paraplegic teacher, and how they come together as an academic team called “the Souls.”  The students are all somehow connected, and they become very close and beat the seventh and eighth grade teams.  They eventually make it all the way to state, and really become a team at that competition.

The relative leave Virginia in their old station wagon They see many things on their trip, but finally make it to their destination. There are lots of hugs and kisses. They have big suppers, crowded sleeping arrangements, work, play, and a lot of enjoyment. When they have to return to Virginia they are sorely missed and they dream about their vacation when they get into their beds.