Saturday, July 24, 2010

As Simple as It Seems by Sarah Weeks

"My Grandpa Colty died on the same day I was born."

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Summary: Eleven-year-old Verbena Polter gets through a difficult summer of turbulent emotions and the revelation of a disturbing family secret with an odd new friend who believes she is the ghost of a girl who drowned many years before.

Harper Collins; 181 pages

4 comments:

Richie Partington said...

http://richiespicks.pbworks.com/AS-SIMPLE-AS-IT-SEEMS

Unknown said...

This is a nice summer read and something grade 3-6 girls might like. Not a Newbery, though.

tessyohnka said...

When I think back to my daughter in fifth grade, I remember so vividly what a perilous time it was -- with the other girls, the friendships, the emotional changes in her -- and Sarah Weeks captured it all so beautifully.
I loved how the mother used nature/the berries to explain the differences in human nature;
I loved the abundance of animals and their contrasts- Teddy who had to be taken back (mean is mean) and Jack who broke down a door to protect Verbie at the lake.
I think I disagree with Martha-- I think it is a contender.

Deb said...

What wonderful characters Verbena and Pooch are! I think many readers will be able to relate to the conflicted feelings of Verbena at that time in her life. Sarah Weeks tells stories with great emotional depth so truly and well. And I love how she can maintain great focus in dealing with serious issues in her storylines, while at the same time buoying her readers with humor. A delight to read! A contender.