We don't do stars...
We don't do thumbs...
We read children's books and grade them in 10 categories:
literary quality
plot
voice
originality
descriptive ability
humor (if attempted)
illustrations (if present)
believability of characters
believability of situations
overall reading enjoyment

There is no grading curve. There are no points for classroom participation. There is no extra credit.
If you disagree, come speak to us after class.

The Grading System

A+.....this means (guess what) we think it's great. So great it surprised even us.
A.....this means it's pretty darn good. A book we'd recommend to just about everyone we know.
B.....better than most. Not exactly Shakespeare for kids, though, if you get our drift.
C.....mediocre. Like the color beige, it didn't stand out.
D.....we didn't like it. There were more bad aspects than good ones.
F.....it reeked of badness. We read it over and over when we are in dire need of hysterical laughter.
F-.....We're pretty sure Dante had a circle of hell for the people who wrote these...and a lower circle for those who published them.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Reporter's Review: Road to Tater Hill, by Edith Hemingway


Delacorte; September, 2009
Overall Grade: B+/A-

Annie has spent every summer with her grandparents in North Carolina, but in the summer of 1963, she expects things to be different: her military father is overseas in Germany and her mother is expecting a baby, Annie’s first sibling. But things turn out more different than she could have imagined: the baby, Mary Kate, dies shortly after a premature birth, Annie’s mother is caught in a cruel state of depression, and Annie meets a strange woman…who just might be a murderer, if the town gossips are right--or who just might be the only person who can understand Annie and help her overcome her grief.
Edith Hemingway crafts Road to Tater Hill with considerable literary skill. The plot is slightly slow and not particularly original, but don’t let the slow beginning keep you from getting to the heart of the story. Annie’s voice is fresh and genuine, showcasing a clear understanding of the mind and heart of a 10-year-old girl. Some lovely descriptions very successfully bring to life the time period and setting; the little North Carolina town has a personality all its own, nearly as vibrant as the characters who occupy it.

Literary Quality: A
Plot: B-
Voice: A
Originality: B
Descriptive Ability: A
Humor: n/a
Illustrations: n/a
Believability of Characters: A
Believability of Situations: B+
Overall Reading Enjoyment: A

Possibly objectionable topics*: death; depression; story told involving violence between spouses

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

i think it sounds amazing i'm going to read it

Anonymous said...

I loved the book. I have read it twice. Beauitul work.

Anonymous said...

I have read it twice. Beauiful work.