Thursday, September 10, 2009

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Title: Walk Two Moons
Author: Sharon Creech
ISBN: 0064405176, Harper Trophy, 1994
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: B

First Line: Gramps says that I am a country girl at heart, and that is true.

Salamanca Tree Hiddle's grandparents have agreed to take her on a cross-country trip to Idaho to see her mother. About a year ago, Sal's mother left their farm in Kentucky, telling everyone she needed to find herself. For a while, Sal received postcards from her mother, but when they stopped arriving it's as if Sal's life has been put on hold.

She hates her new life in Ohio, and hasn't made many friends in school. She certainly doesn't like her father's new friend, Mrs. Margaret Cadaver! As she and her grandparents set out on the trip to Idaho, the old couple ask Sal to tell them stories. The stories Sal tells are about her classmate, Phoebe Winterbottom, and it's strange, but as Sal talks about Phoebe and her family not only do things become clearer about her friend...they become clearer about herself and her own family.

Sal's voice is so winning in Walk Two Moons that I could sit and listen to her tell an endless number of stories. She tells the truth even when she puts herself in a bad light. By the time Sal and her grandparents reach Idaho, the young girl's going to have some growing up to do, but after reading this book, I know she's going to be just fine.

Walk Two Moons won the Newbery Medal in 1995. In my experience, it's the only book award that hasn't steered me wrong. If you're in the mood for a fast-paced book about love, loss and the complexity of human emotions and relationships, please read Sharon Creech's moving book. Sal's a very special young girl.

8 comments:

  1. I picked this book up during the summer at a bootsale as part of a group of books being sold together. I was thinking of getting rid of it, but after reading your review I really want to read it now.

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  2. I read this book with my 7th graders last year. While they had mixed feelings about the book, I really enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the humorous, yet poignant relationship between the grandparents. Creech's dialogue between those characters was spot on.

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  3. I haven't read this but Vance enjoyed it when he did.

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  4. I'm pretty sure my daughter read this one and enjoyed it when she participated in The Battle of the Books back when she was in grade school. It sounds like a wonderful read.

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  5. I agree with you on the Newberry Awards. This is one I haven't read but I'm going to search it out.

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  6. I've only read one Newbery that I didn't enjoy (The Story of Mankind) so I'll have to see about picking this one up.

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  7. I am with you on the Newbery Awards. They are rarely off base. I'll but this one on my radar.

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  8. This was one of my very favorite books when I was in middle school. Sharon Creech does a great job with her characters and their voices. I can't remember other titles, but I've enjoyed all of her books.

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