Remember Maniac Magee? We all loved this incredible story from Jerry Spinelli. Well, how many of you knew that Jerry's wife is an author as well? Here are two of her books that I've read this summer...
Summerhouse Time
by Eileen Spinelli
I'm a big fan of Love That Dog by Sharon Creech. I love reading a novel in verse - it's a fun experience. When I heard that Summerhouse Time was in a similar format, I reserved it from the Greenville Public Library. Sophie is counting down the days to Summerhouse Time - her favorite time of the year. Her entire family goes to the beach for a month! Her perfect expectations of Summerhouse Time begin to collapse when her cousin Colleen won't speak to her, her aunt and uncle fight, and her dad has a panic attack. Sophie learns that life is not perfect, but you have to make the most of it. The story had layers of meaning that would make it perfect for a book club discussion.
by Eileen Spinelli
Just like Summerhouse Time, this is a story written in verse. But unlike Summerhouse Time, many of these poems could really stand on their own. The first half of the story shows us Diana - and how much she loves her home, friends, and school. When her dad loses her job, they are forced to move. The second half of the story shows how Diana deals with this difficult circumstance. Diana is a wonderful character. She's smart, funny, and sees herself as a poet. She learns to keep a writer's notebook with her at all times - to capture the poetry that happens all around her. The illustrations are really incredible; they add a lot to the story. I think Where I Live was my favorite out of the two. I like how Diana uses poetry and writing to deal with the hardships in her life. It also has an incredible example of a circular ending. Make sure you compare the first and last poem in the book. I think lots of kids in our class will appreciate this book.
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