CCBC-Net Archives
Crispin
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Steven Engelfried <sengelfried>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 19:56:16 -0800 (PST)
Though it's been a while since I read "Crispin," here's what struck me about it: Avi gets you right into Crispin's world without wasting words on unnecessary historical background. It's a story first, not a history lesson, though you end up with a strong feel for the time and place anyway. Crispin as a character is interesting more for his plight than for his individual personality at first, but when he joins Bear the story really comes alive. Bear was the highlight of the book for me, sort of a cross between Prydain's Fflewddur Fflam and Harry Potter's Hagrid.
From the book-recommending librarian point of view, this is a Newbery winner that kids will read and enjoy; long, but fast...and also it's nice to see the first book in a series get the medal (I always want to recommend "The High King" and "Grey King" for Newbery assignments, but am compelled to tell kids they should read the earlier books first).
- Steven Engelfried
Beaverton City Library
12375 5th Street
Beaverton, OR 97005
503R6%99
sengelfried at yahoo.com
__________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day http://shopping.yahoo.com
Received on Tue 11 Feb 2003 09:56:16 PM CST
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 19:56:16 -0800 (PST)
Though it's been a while since I read "Crispin," here's what struck me about it: Avi gets you right into Crispin's world without wasting words on unnecessary historical background. It's a story first, not a history lesson, though you end up with a strong feel for the time and place anyway. Crispin as a character is interesting more for his plight than for his individual personality at first, but when he joins Bear the story really comes alive. Bear was the highlight of the book for me, sort of a cross between Prydain's Fflewddur Fflam and Harry Potter's Hagrid.
From the book-recommending librarian point of view, this is a Newbery winner that kids will read and enjoy; long, but fast...and also it's nice to see the first book in a series get the medal (I always want to recommend "The High King" and "Grey King" for Newbery assignments, but am compelled to tell kids they should read the earlier books first).
- Steven Engelfried
Beaverton City Library
12375 5th Street
Beaverton, OR 97005
503R6%99
sengelfried at yahoo.com
__________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day http://shopping.yahoo.com
Received on Tue 11 Feb 2003 09:56:16 PM CST
