From: Robin L. Gibson <gibsonro>
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 09:43:27 -0800

In response to some of Christine's (and others) comments - Christine M. Hill wrote:

Although I enjoyed The Wanderer for the plot and point of view, I don't totally buy either of its narrative voices as real young people. They sound like adults who use a little slang to me. I liked Sal's narrative voice in Walk Two Moons even less. She sounded like a little old lady to me. In contrast, one of Konigsberg's gifts is making a very smart narrator sound just like a kid.

I liked the voices of both Sophie and Cody in the Wanderer -- they didn't seem too adult to me (but then I am an adult) -- I especially liked how Cody revealed more about Sophie, and let us get a bigger, different picture of her and what was going on. Sophie did this with Cody too -- but to a lesser extent for me -- I completely trusted Sophie's point of view until Cody's voice entered the picture, and then I began to question too -- just how did Sophy know about Bompie's stories? I wanted to believe in her -- that she really knew the stories, but I did doubt her. I wanted so much for her to be accepted and considered part of the family. The pacing of the book was just perfect to me.

Christine also compared Creech to Konigsberg -- an author I also love, though I don't know that I find the voices of her narrators especially child-like. To me, her style is more formal, very elegant, and her characters are masterfully put together. With the recent comments on the listserv, Silent to the Bone moved to the top of my reading list, despite it's lack of recognition by the Newbery committee. I simply could not put this book down. And it was a strange way for me to read a book -- with great anticipation for enjoyment, being familiar with the author, knowing that the CCBC group (whom I really miss being a part of) voted it as their choice for the Newbery, and yet at the same time thinking what was wrong with this book? Why wasn't it recognized? What is the major literary flaw K.T. speculated that others might have found? I didn't find the answers to those last questions (if anyone did, I'd be interested in hearing those points of view) I found Silent to the Bone very compelling. I do find Konigsburg's writing a bit formal (I don't know how better to describe it
-- (by contrast, I would describe Christopher Paul Curtis's style as much more casual). As in the Wanderer, the characters are gradually revealed to us as we read the story. And in both books there are some things we never get told (Sophie's past; medical details about Nikki's condition -- we are told enough, but not completely). I am a part of an academic community, so I do know children like Connor and Branwell, and neighborhoods like they describe, so the characters were believable to me (though also very different from other kids I know.)

Christine -- thanks for letting me use your comments as a springboard. I am really enjoying this discussion . . .

Robin

&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&* Robin L. Gibson gibsonro at oplin.lib.oh.us Youth Services Coordinator 740/342A94 Perry County District Library 117 S Jackson St New Lexington OH 43764
Received on Wed 31 Jan 2001 11:43:27 AM CST