Thursday, November 6, 2008

Hummingbird by Kimberly Greene Angle - ADVISABLE


Angle, Kimberly Greene Hummingbird, 256 p. Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2008. $16.95.

Content: G.

EL, MS - ADVISABLE

March Anne's life is dictated by the rhythms of her family's watermelon farm. Since her mother's death, Grenna (grandma) has been the stalwart holding the family together. Now Grenna is in decline and March Anne, twelve, is not up to stepping into the void, whether it is cooking dinner or keeping the family garden plot. Until March Anne confronts her grief over her mother's death, she will never come to terms with Grenna's passing when it is time.

I am not usually a big fan of slow-moving books, but this one stood out for me. It is a reminiscent of Missing May by Rylant and of Chasing Redbird by Creech, but in small ways. This is a novel that should be shared with teachers in 5,6,7 as a possible classroom purchase. It themes of friendship, maturation and grief are very teachable.

CINDY

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