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February Read - The Year of Billy Miller
By Kristen · 22 posts · 121 views
By Kristen · 22 posts · 121 views
last updated May 18, 2014 09:12PM
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Other topics mentioning this book
It's Never too Early to Start...
By Kristen · 214 posts · 780 views
By Kristen · 214 posts · 780 views
last updated Jan 02, 2014 08:10AM
What Members Thought
After the darker tone of the author's previous two novels, this one is quite light while still feeling very much an Appelt with her signature folky and entertaining third person omniscient storyteller. It is the tale of a swamp in peril of being paved over by a couple of nefarious meanies who made me think of Carl Hiaasen's, of a son and mother with a small cane sugar pie business threatened by those aforementioned meanies, some charming raccoon bros with quite an appreciation for art, snakes (o
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A cute story of family, bravery and doing what is right. Short chapters make this a great read-aloud. (3rd-6th)
Audio note: The narration by Lyle Lovett was excellent. His smooth, almost sleepy, voice added much to the Bayou setting.
Audio note: The narration by Lyle Lovett was excellent. His smooth, almost sleepy, voice added much to the Bayou setting.
This is a tall tale about a swamp in Texas guarded by a cryptid (look it up, sports fans) called the Sugar Man. As the title suggests, the swamp is looked after by scouts. These scouts are named J'miah and Bingo and they're young raccoons.
Also inhabiting the swamp is a young boy named Chap. Chap's just lost his beloved grandpa and to make matter worse, some greedy folks are trying to shut down his family's pie shop and pave over the swamp so they can build an alligator wrestling arena. (Oh, the ...more
Also inhabiting the swamp is a young boy named Chap. Chap's just lost his beloved grandpa and to make matter worse, some greedy folks are trying to shut down his family's pie shop and pave over the swamp so they can build an alligator wrestling arena. (Oh, the ...more
Peggy Sharp Book
I listened to this book on audio books. It was excellent. The imagery, the language, the description were all wonderful. And the voice of Lyle Lovett made it even better.
I listened to this book on audio books. It was excellent. The imagery, the language, the description were all wonderful. And the voice of Lyle Lovett made it even better.
Well, this book is everything I dislike--anthropomorphic, folksy, quirky, with over-the-top villains--but I recognize that it's a good book. And the raccoons really were kind of adorable.
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Practically perfect! Mystical swamp, precocious raccoons, a pack of wild hogs, gazillions of rattlesnakes, alligator wrestling, and a boy who lost his grandfather and struggles to save his home. Plus: the sugar man!
I love the narrator in this animal fantasy / big foot /coming of age story. She/he has a little sass and a lighthearted, humorous tone that makes for a perfect read aloud.
Jul 29, 2013
Robynn
marked it as to-read
Mock Newbery selection?
excellent writing and storytelling. but i just am not that into animal stories.
Jun 24, 2013
Mary Lee
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audio,
characters,
humor,
2013,
straighttomyheart,
environmental,
cats,
middle-grade,
poetry,
mystery
Best. Audio Book. Ever.
(Well, at least until the next great one. But for the time being, it simply doesn't get any better than this! Stop what you're listening to now and get a copy of this book!)
Okay. I'll calm down. A bit.
The story is brilliant. My five stars represent 5X5 stars.
And who reads this book aloud to you? Lyle bleeping Lovett!!! He's...pardon the repeat...BRILLIANT!!
This book better win prizes. This AUDIO book better win the Odyssey Award!!
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(Well, at least until the next great one. But for the time being, it simply doesn't get any better than this! Stop what you're listening to now and get a copy of this book!)
Okay. I'll calm down. A bit.
The story is brilliant. My five stars represent 5X5 stars.
And who reads this book aloud to you? Lyle bleeping Lovett!!! He's...pardon the repeat...BRILLIANT!!
This book better win prizes. This AUDIO book better win the Odyssey Award!!
...more
Listened to Recorded Books audio edition narrated by Lyle Lovett. Highly enjoyable thanks partly to Lovett's Southern-tinged, thoroughly charming narration. Appelt's repetitive, rhythmic language is at play here - this time in the style of a tall tale. I can see how this was a divisive title - the folksy writing style is very strong and is likely to appeal to some and repel others. The environmental themes and the wackiness reminded me of Carl Hiaasen's books for kids.
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Sep 03, 2013
Michele
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childrens-chapter-4-8
So clever and skillfully written. Appelt writes the animal POV better than any I've ever read. This would be a GREAT read aloud book... in fact, since it's written from 6-7 different POVs, it would be fun to read as a family with different people taking on the different roles.
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Jul 11, 2013
Julie
marked it as to-read
Sep 17, 2013
J.j.
marked it as to-read
Oct 16, 2013
Lola
marked it as to-read
Dec 12, 2013
Anna
marked it as to-read
