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Where is that half-star rating when you need it? I read this book a few weeks ago and was all five-stars about it. And then I read one of the author’s earlier books, Each Little Bird That Sings, which touched my heart so deeply that all other books have slid down a notch in my estimation. But just a little notch, and I did love this book. It’s 4 ¾ stars so it’s only fair to round up.
The author notes that this story of the Cuban Missile Crisis began as a picture book. It grew into a novel for yo ...more
The author notes that this story of the Cuban Missile Crisis began as a picture book. It grew into a novel for yo ...more
I probably would have given this 4 stars if all the documentary extras had been stuck at the end instead of interspersed, distracting me from Franny's story and making the book much more disjointed than it needed to be. Then I thought, maybe the confusion and disorientation caused by the addition of photos, snippits of speeches, newspaper clippings and other ephemera may be the authors way of helping you relate to the confusion and disorientation the character might be going through, living thro
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I really enjoyed this book, though Franny's "telegraphing" things to people was annoying. I wasn't yet born in 1962 (the time setting of the book), but I enjoyed many references to things in my childhood: Breck shampoo, Aqua Net hairspray, drills when we hid under our desks in case an atomic bomb fell, etc.
Some of my friends have said that their kids liked this book, but I don't think my kids would have. Even I was left with questions. Who was Ebenezer? What was Franny's sister doing? Why was h ...more
Some of my friends have said that their kids liked this book, but I don't think my kids would have. Even I was left with questions. Who was Ebenezer? What was Franny's sister doing? Why was h ...more
I really liked this book. I was the same age as Franny when these events happened in my life as well. It brought back memories of a very frightening time. I, like Franny loved and collected Nancy Drew mysteries and had my first real crush on a boy at this age.
I can't wait to read the next books in this series. It has helped to have a little distance from the events and see it through another person's eyes. What a crazy, scary time for a child to grow up in. Almost as bad as today's world. ...more
I can't wait to read the next books in this series. It has helped to have a little distance from the events and see it through another person's eyes. What a crazy, scary time for a child to grow up in. Almost as bad as today's world. ...more
This is a standard coming of age book. Frannie struggles through her preteen year with her sibling relationships, her friends, her PTSD affected uncle, her overburdened parents, etc. What makes the novel actually stand out, though, are the inserts that set the sixties stage. They are filled with pictures, speech quotes, song lyrics, etc.
A fantastic historical fiction set in the sixties during the cuban missle crisis. I especially loved the mixed media, as the book had advertisements, photos, and quotes from the time period mixed in together with the story of Franny. Very well done and an excellent read.
It was a good book. I really think people who grew up during the 60's will love it or if you were a military family. It might be hard to get kids to pick it up though because it is a rather think book. It was a quick read for me!
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A fascinating use of images and quotations from the era, along with a story and characters that are absolutely engaging. Even knowing what I do about the Cuban Missile Crisis, seeing it from Franny's point of view made it immediate and terrifying - although Franny's focus is still often on her family and friends (or former friends). A great choice especially for girls who enjoy historical fiction or for readers looking for a story about friendship. If this shows up on the OLA/WLA Mock Newbery li
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The audio was fantastic. They incorporated the news reports and other era-related material in an amazing way. Can't wait for the next one!
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I loved the mix of artifacts and fiction. My mom loved it because it was set just about when she would have been the same age as the main character. She said it was spot-on.
Apr 15, 2010
Lisa Vegan
marked it as to-read
May 23, 2010
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
marked it as to-read
Jul 20, 2010
Tara
marked it as to-read
Sep 12, 2010
Lisa
marked it as to-read
Mar 15, 2011
Rachel Piper
marked it as to-read-own
Sep 19, 2012
Kate
marked it as to-read
Feb 03, 2014
Destiny
marked it as to-read
Jul 11, 2019
Lesley
added it
May 07, 2022
The Book Maven
marked it as to-read
