(I’m absolutely doing this in my next read! Ha!)Ģ. A new way of critiquing a book- judging it by its first line. Let me just end this by sharing some of the awesome things I learned from the book.ġ. I love how the book talked about life’s most ordinary things- little things in the perspective of a 12 year old girl but which made the story even more meaningful. I love how each one played a vital role to put across the meaning of the story. The first note from the man said he’s coming to save Miranda’s friend’s life which established the mystery in the entire story. The POV is amazing! It’s one of the best elements of the story because it is told by the 12 year old Miranda through her letter in response to the notes of a mystery man- a man who seems to know things about Miranda even before they happened. They were just trying to save one person and it makes it even more realistic and believable. The characters weren’t trying to save the world here. It was simply and easily told but it managed to give me Goosebumps and tears at the end of the story. This adorable little book talks about time travel too and is absolutely enthralling. It was technically well explained but I don’t know why I wasn’t so impressed. This book is sunshine and sunset combined- beautiful and heartbreaking.Ĭoincidentally, I just read a sci-fi story about time travel before this. Ironically, books for kids seem to have the most profound meanings. I know now that if I want to be completely surprised, I just have to read middle school books.

** i say 'most', because i can sense david looking up from his vinyl fetish book long enough to raise a questioning eyebrow at me. *meaning greg, who i frequently send down to fetch the teen fiction books i can't be bothered going to get myself. I am not giving ariel back her copy, nope. it is always believable, as her perceptions of people change as she learns more about them - nothing is black and white - there is a great deal of nuance that feels very natural.

Just know that the storyline has a wonderful, unusual shape, and she does a really good job with revealing other characters through her narrator's eyes.

and sure, it won the newbery and it is intended for children but it is a sweet, sad book about friendship and family and sacrifice that most adults could really appreciate.** i really don't want to go into too much detail - i am finding it really hard to write this review because the less you know before reading this, the better. Someday, i am going to venture down to the second floor where the kids/teen section is and i am going to grab a whole bunch of books that i like and i am going to just shelve them in my adult fiction section because the young'uns shouldn't get to hog everything that is good in this world and also not have to pay rent, and there is something creepy about a 35 year old man browsing the shelves in teen fiction.* i am doing everyone a favor here.

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