Novel: Rules by Cynthia Lord
We had great discussions at our last meeting on Thursday night. We
all agreed that
Rules was a tightly written (not a wasted word) book
that described in a realistic way a 12-year-old girl learning to deal with a
little brother with Autism and a new friend in a wheelchair with a disability
that rendered him unable to walk or talk. Some thought that Catherine and Jason
had romantic feelings about each other; others didn't, but all agreed that it
was a very good book worthy of the Newbery Honor that it received. We
talked about the two endings -- one predictable, and the final one emotionally
important for Catherine, who became empowered as the story
evolved.
Picture Book: Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
As for the picture book,
Interrupting Chicken, which
garnered a Caldecott Honor, ummmmm -- we all said, "Why??" Unless it was for the
fact that it was very unique -- i.e. chickens who didn't actually look like
chickens, and other weird stuff. We liked the story, but couldn't really get
'into' the illustrations.....oh, well -- some books and some award winners are
like that!
