From: Connie Rockman <connie.rock>
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 12:36:36 -0500

I booktalked Olive's Ocean to a reading club at my local library two weeks ago, and the girls all wanted to take it. Sarah was the victorious one who reached for it first, and at yesterday's meeting, she gave a very circumspect description of the book . . . because she didn't want to ruin the story for anyone else. The kids always give a star rating to the books they read - from one to five. When asked for her rating of Olive's Ocean, Sarah said - I give it an infinity of stars! She's a 7th grader who continues to come to the 4th-6th grade reading club because it's a comfortable place . . . but the 4th and 5th graders were just as interested in taking the book, and I'll get their reactions at the next meeting.

I think Steve's right - it may not appeal to every reader, but I think the ones who love it will love it wholeheartedly. When I read it, I was more aware than usual of a 13-year-old deep inside me who was reading on a more emotional level than my adult self . . . and I think that's the magic of Henkes's writing in this book. He is so completely in the mind of a girl that age, it's quite remarkable.

Connie Rockman
Received on Fri 06 Feb 2004 11:36:36 AM CST