Author: Rachna Gilmore (Canada)
Age group in store: 10
Briefly, it's about:
Prince Edward Island, 1930s - the Depression, and the very winsome Roderick "Red" MacRae, a young boy trying to hold his own among his siblings and make a favourable impression on the pretty Shona Murray (think Anne of Green Gables told from Gilbert's POV!)
Shanti's Rave:
The back of this book reads "Anne of Green Gables meets Owen Skye" and I think that's a very apt description. I absolutely loved it, as much as I also absolutely love those two! The writing is wonderful and the storytelling full of warmth, wit and humour.
Here's a sampling of some of my favourite parts:
"He'd expected a hand with fewer fingers to have less strength, but Pa's hand had the same vigour and steadiness it had always had. It was strong enough to keep things right side up." (140)
A chapter entitled "The Outhouse Bandit" ...both thrilling and HILARIOUS!
"Maybe, one day, he'd be leaving too. The idea burst over him with the brightness of an egg yolk. His hands tingled. Maybe he'd head out to the edge of the world, and keep going and going all the way around, before coming back home." (206)
It reminded me most of L.M. Montgomery's Anne adventures but there were also a lot of Alan Cumyn and Beverly Cleary- style friendships and family relationships dynamics, complete with the crazy larks of a childhood spent outdoors with other children, in a rural island setting.
It's perfect for:
Fans of the author (Trouble With Dilly is also a favourite!), L.M. Montgomery, Alan Cumyn, Beverly Cleary, Jean Little, Brian Doyle, Marie-Louise Gay (Travels With My Family), Valerie Sherrard (Tumbleweed Skies), Laura Ingalls Wilder...fun, wholesome, family stories that celebrate childhood, family and friendship!
# of stars: *****! (I finished it in one afternoon, then immediately flipped back to my favourite parts and ended up re-reading it again!)
Shanti's Rave:
The back of this book reads "Anne of Green Gables meets Owen Skye" and I think that's a very apt description. I absolutely loved it, as much as I also absolutely love those two! The writing is wonderful and the storytelling full of warmth, wit and humour.
Here's a sampling of some of my favourite parts:
"He'd expected a hand with fewer fingers to have less strength, but Pa's hand had the same vigour and steadiness it had always had. It was strong enough to keep things right side up." (140)
A chapter entitled "The Outhouse Bandit" ...both thrilling and HILARIOUS!
"Maybe, one day, he'd be leaving too. The idea burst over him with the brightness of an egg yolk. His hands tingled. Maybe he'd head out to the edge of the world, and keep going and going all the way around, before coming back home." (206)
It reminded me most of L.M. Montgomery's Anne adventures but there were also a lot of Alan Cumyn and Beverly Cleary- style friendships and family relationships dynamics, complete with the crazy larks of a childhood spent outdoors with other children, in a rural island setting.
It's perfect for:
Fans of the author (Trouble With Dilly is also a favourite!), L.M. Montgomery, Alan Cumyn, Beverly Cleary, Jean Little, Brian Doyle, Marie-Louise Gay (Travels With My Family), Valerie Sherrard (Tumbleweed Skies), Laura Ingalls Wilder...fun, wholesome, family stories that celebrate childhood, family and friendship!
# of stars: *****! (I finished it in one afternoon, then immediately flipped back to my favourite parts and ended up re-reading it again!)
Shanti, thanks so much for your lovely words about my newest book. I don't think any author could want more than to hear you say you started to re-read the book as soon as you'd finished it. I loved writing it and being in Red's world, so I'm delighted that you loved it too.
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