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What Members Thought
Mock Newbery Book. Possibly a strong contender? I liked The Surrender Tree and this book definitely reminded me of it. Great read-alike to any other novel in verse (after they read Out of the Dust, some kids can't get enough of novels in verse and there aren't TONS of options). Interesting topic, engagingly told. Quick read, which is nice for kids who absolutely do not like to read. The only thing is that it's a little confusing, so while it is short and quick, it isn't necessarily good for some
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Some lovely atmosphere and writing here, but I had trouble following the timeline, which drew me out of the story. I could understand it only when I thought of it as a story without a linear timeline. Which I don't think was the intention.
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A work of historical fiction told in verse from multiple points of view. Detailing the first Caribbean pirate shipwreck Engle mixes history and real people with her own imagination. Intensely emotional, this is a story about the battle for power and the search for identity. The author includes her own note as well as a historical note providing background on the people and events of the story. She also includes a list of references. This would be an excellent companion to any study of The Tempes
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I'm super biased toward books that are written about events I know nothing about (Countdown, Inside Out and Back Again, The Fences Between Us), so I don't know that I can be fair in my review. Especially because I have a soft spot in my heart for pirate-y books (True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle). All the characters in this book fascinated me.
There's so much new information that I'm thinking of using this book for my first narrative input chart, which I think I need to present this fall as a p ...more
There's so much new information that I'm thinking of using this book for my first narrative input chart, which I think I need to present this fall as a p ...more
This is told in 5 voices. 5. While I appreciated having the names of the speakers listed over each page - so you not only knew who was talking, you could tell when that person would continue speaking for a few pages - 5 seems like a bit much in such a short book. I enjoyed learning about the very first Caribbean pirate, though we didn't get as much of his story as I had hoped. The author's note was very informative and it was cool to find out that most of the voices were real people. Including o
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Beautiful language, alternating voices, engaging characters, and a surprisingly captivating story make this novel in verse one that middle school teachers are going to especially love using with their students. There are lots of topics to discuss here, including the Age of Exploration, slavery, and the exploitation of native populations.
Engle's written a story not often/never? told about natives on a Caribbean island who've run into Spanish explorers/pirates. Tells story from multiple viewpoints--the former slave who's 1/2 Taino, 1/2 Spanish; the chief's daughter whose father refuses to let her marry the fisherman she loves; the fisherman; the incompetent Spanish pirate; the explorer who's a prisoner of the pirate...
Lots of different voices and stories and themes. The writing is clear yet I didn't find myself astounded by the l ...more
Lots of different voices and stories and themes. The writing is clear yet I didn't find myself astounded by the l ...more
She always introduces me to a story I didn't know. Engle's books are filled with adventure and romance and history--all presented in free verse. Wonderful, as always.
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Took awhile to get into since it is written in poem verse. Very interesting book
May 16, 2011
Sarah W
marked it as to-read
Jan 23, 2012
Laura5
marked it as to-read
Oct 03, 2012
Anamaria
added it
Dec 30, 2012
Lola
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Apr 09, 2013
Marlena
marked it as to-read
Dec 18, 2014
Amy
marked it as to-read
Jun 12, 2015
Kathy
marked it as to-read
