Tuesday, September 17, 2013

The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech



Readers: 

I loved this book so much. Here's why: It is...
  • Sweet
  • Kind
  • Warm
  • Interesting
  • Heartfelt
  • Unique
  • Lovely
  • Sad
  • Happy
Writers: 

Here's what you should notice when you read it - because Creech is a master and we can all learn from a master, right?

  • Third-person omniscient point of view (seamlessly done)
  • Somebody made a rule that children's books shouldn't have adults as main characters. Somebody (aka Sharon Creech) proves that brilliant writers can break rules any ole dang time they want to. So there. (*fist bump, Sharon*)
  • The setting is timeless. Other than a truck, there is nothing to ground us in time. Could be 1940. Could be 2013. Who cares? Nobody.
  • Every word counts.
  • The main characters of John and Marta are brilliantly developed. Notice their lovely dialogue.
  • Ms. Creech has proven, once again, that she is the master of setting up a story QUICKLY. (Like, um, first paragraph.)
  • Creech is not afraid to make a young reader worry, fret and feel sad. And, come on, who doesn't love a good bout of worrying, fretting, and feeling sad every now and then? What can we learn from this? Don't be a wimpy writer. (At least, that's what I learned.)

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