At our last meeting, we discussed our novel first: Alchemy and Meggy
Swann by Karen Cushman. There were many parts of it that we liked: its
depiction of Elizabethan Era London, the great 'cursing' language used by Meggy
and her 'frenemy' Roger, and the details about alchemy that were given in the
author's notes at the end. Several of us felt it didn't match up to some of the
author's previous books, and one reader felt that her 'lists,' as she enumerated
various elements in the London setting were just 'lazy writing.' A couple of
readers felt that it wasn't a real story, as much as a series of vignettes or
incidents, and that the relationships between Meggy and her father weren't well
developed. Ditto for her relationship with her mother. We wanted to know more
about why her mother thought so little of Meggy as she was growing up -- perhaps
because of her physical disability, something that wasn't well-accepted in those
times. We liked Meggy's 'spunk' and determination to make something of her life,
given the hardships she had to endure, and we felt that would be encouraging for
young readers. We also felt that it would give young readers a feeling for the
time and place in which the story occurred.
Everyone liked the picture book, Time for (Earth) School, Dewey Dew
by Leslie Staub. One reader absolutely loved it, and thought it was a
perfect picture book. We all liked the illustrations, and the fact that it was a
new 'take' on the 'being the new kid in a strange school' meme. A couple of
readers were a bit put off by the weird words (in Dewey's language) that were
used to describe everyday things.....even though we felt that kids would
completely understand what he was saying. We liked the fact that Dewey was a
character with whom young readers could relate -- mainly because he was the 'new
kid,' and not for any other reasons that might create any kind of bias. We felt
there were some very poetic passages, and we all loved the double-spread
illustration when Dewey's smile lit up the playground (and the universe) after
he made a new friend. A generally positive review by
all.
