WICHITA, Kan. — Bookstores from coast-to-coast will mark “Independent Bookstore Day” on Saturday, May 2. More than 400 retailers from Alaska to Maine will celebrate their value to their communities with author readings, special sales, and other activities. While a … Continue reading
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Blog: (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Uncategorized, Stephen King, Kansas, Elizabeth Gilbert, Daniel Handler, Wichita, Girls Sports, Clare Vanderpool, Moon Over Manifest, Tavia Gilbert, Sarah Bagby, Grant Overstake, Inspirational Sports Stories, Maggie Vaults Over the Moon, Kansas Farm Life, Watermark Books & Cafe, New Audiobooks, Blackstone Audio, Independent Bookstore Day, Limony Snicket, Lisa See. Sue Monk Kidd, Add a tag
Blog: The Children's and Teens' Book Connection (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: book reviews, Tween fiction, adventure stories, Middle Grade books, Clare Vanderpool, The Children's and Teens Book Connection, Navigating Early, Add a tag
Navigating Early by Clare Vnaderpool, a 2014 Printz Honor Book, is a moving novel of friendship, forgiveness, and moving on.
After the death of his mother, Jack Baker’s father moves him from Kansas to a boy’s boarding school in Maine. His life turned upside down, Jack makes friend with an odd boy named Early Auden who only attends class when he wishes, lives down in the basement, and listens to a variety of records depending upon the day and the weather.
Inadvertently left alone at school over the break, Jack and Early embark upon a journey by boat to find the Great Appalachian Bear. Fraught with danger and numerous surprises, the boys learn a great deal about themselves and each other in the process.
Throughout the story runs the mythical story of Pi, an adventurer whose journey closely relates to Jack’s and Early’s.
I don’t often listen to audio books, but for this grade level they are fun. The variety of characters portrayed in this adventurous tale is superb. The narrator was fabulous! I don’t want to give away too much because the surprises along the way are worth picking up this book, but let me say that even though there are down times in this book, the pace is fairly steady.
Navigating Early is filled with engaging characters whose story will captivate you fully. Not only is Jack coping with the death of his mother, but he has a difficult relationship with his military father. Both Jack and Early Auden are odd men out when it comes to school. Early’s ties to the school hero who went off to war and Jack’s inability to row at a school where rowing is a right of passage, bring them together. But it isn’t until the journey they take while alone at school that Jack can appreciate Early’s friendship.
I loved everything about this book: the plot development, the character development, the hooks, the shocks, and the tears. The mythical story of Pi ties in nicely and connects the boys in more ways than one.
If your middle grade reader only picks up one book this year, it should be Navigating Early.
Highly recommended!
Rating: :) :) :) :) :)
Age Range: 10 and up
Grade Level: 5 and up
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Yearling (December 23, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307930653
ISBN-13: 978-0307930651
I borrowed this book from the library. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.
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JacketFlap tags: Clare Vanderpool, Moon Over Manifest, The Door in the Forest, Navigating Early, Claire M. Caterer, Tiger Hunting, Tracy Million Simmons, Hope Amid Hardship: Pioneer Voices from Kansas Territory, A Kansas Bestiary, Aryln and Delane Brunken, Coach Delane Brunken, Doug Hitt, Jake Vail, Jon and Janet Summers, Kansas Notable Book Awards, Linda S. Johnston, Lisa Grossman, Maggie Wright, Nelson Poetry Book Award, Perfectly Normal, Poet Laureate of Kansas, The Afterlifes of Trees, The Breathing Field, The Key & The Flame, Wyatt Townley, Uncategorized, Roderick Townley, Add a tag
TOPEKA, Kan. – Even without her pole-vaulting pole, Maggie Steele soared to amazing new heights at the Kansas Book Festival. Author Grant Overstake introduced his young adult novel, Maggie Vaults Over the Moon, at the event, held Saturday, Sept. 7 … Continue reading
Blog: Books 'n' stories (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: book reviews, Clare Vanderpool, Navigating Early, Add a tag
What an odd book... A coming of age story that incorporates math, mythology, a smattering of mid-20th century history, and backwoods adventure. About two thirds through the book I flipped to the end. I was afraid that one thing was going to happen. Sigh, something else happened and I could continue to find out how.
In Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool, Jack is the new kid at a boarding school on the coast of Maine. He comes from Kansas but his father is stationed in Maine. His mother has just died. His father is a stranger having been in the service during the War (WWII). Jack has never seen the ocean - ever.
Somehow, the weirdest kid in school, Early Auden, catches Jack's imagination. Early doesn't bother to come to classes and when he does, he often leaves in the middle. But he doesn't bother anyone so no one bothers, or bothers with, him. He doesn't seek Jack out but he does help Jack. So when Jack's father has to cancel a visit during Spring break, Jack joins Early on a quest to follow the Early-created mythical journey of the number Pi.
Pi's story reminds the reader of the travels of Odysseus, with shipwrecks, weird old women, pirates and more. And Early's quest into the north Maine woods is every bit as exciting. There are some strange people out there in Main lumber country.
The ending was not what I expected. Early was not what I expected. Even Jack surprised me a time or two. Good book, good adventure, good writing. I approve!
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Book Lists: Specialty picks, Peter Lerangis, Jude Watson, Lauren Kate, Victoria Kann, Deborah Underwood, Lincoln Peirce, Simon Beecroft, Ally Condie, Pittacus Lore, Clare Vanderpool, Sarah Blakley-Cartwright, Phillip C. Stead, Kristi Yamaguchi, Neil Gaiman, Stephenie Meyer, Alex Flinn, James Patterson, Barack Obama, Rick Riordan, Markus Zusak, Jeff Kinney, Best Sellers, Gordon Korman, Suzanne Collins, Joan Holub, John Flanagan, Ages Four to Eight: Books for pre-school to second grade, Ages Nine to Twelve: Books for third through sixth grade, Teens: Books for young adults, Add a tag
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: April 1, 2011
Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.
THE HOT SPOTS: THE TRENDS
Kids’ Earth Day Books: Green with Environmental Awareness
The 39 Clues Blog Tour: Access Granted, Peter Lerangis
How Picture Books Play a Role in a Child’s Development
Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online
THE NEW RELEASES
The most coveted books that release this month:
The 39 Clues, Book 11: Vespers Rising
by Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordon Korman, Jude Watson
(Ages 8-12)
Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 10: The Emperor of Nihon-ja
by John Flanagan
(Ages 9-12)
Big Nate Boredom Buster: Super Scribbles, Cool Comix, and Lots of Laughs
by Lincoln Peirce
(Ages 8-12)
by Deborah Underwood
(Ages 1-6)
Athena the Wise (Goddess Girls)
by Joan Holub
(Ages 8-12)
THE BEST SELLERS
The best selling children’s books this month:
PICTURE BOOKS
Add a CommentBlog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Anthony Horowitz, James Patterson, Barack Obama, Rick Riordan, Markus Zusak, Jeff Kinney, Best Sellers, Jane O'Connor, Becca Fitzpatrick, Ages Four to Eight: Books for pre-school to second grade, Ages Nine to Twelve: Books for third through sixth grade, Teens: Books for young adults, Book Lists: Specialty picks, Lauren Kate, Jacky Davis, Simon Beecroft, Ally Condie, Clare Vanderpool, Sarah Blakley-Cartwright, Al Yankovic, Phillip C. Stead, L. J. Smith, Victoria Kann, Suzanne Collins, Neil Gaiman, Stephenie Meyer, Shaun Tan, Add a tag
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: February 1, 2011
Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.
THE HOT SPOTS: THE TRENDS
How Picture Books Play a Role in a Child’s Development
20 Sites to Improve Your Child’s Literacy
Superhero Books: Batman, Superman, Spider-Man
Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online
THE NEW RELEASES
The most coveted books that release this month:
by Shaun Tan
(Ages 8-12)
Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad
by Jacky Davis
(Ages 3-7)
The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Midnight
by L. J. Smith
(Young Adult)
by Jane O’connor
(Ages 4-8)
Scorpia Rising: An Alex Rider Misson
by Anthony Horowitz
(Young Adult)
THE BEST SELLERS
The best selling children’s books this month:
PICTURE BOOKS
Add a Comment
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: David Wiesner, James Patterson, Barack Obama, Lane Smith, Jeff Kinney, Best Sellers, Becca Fitzpatrick, Book Lists: Specialty picks, Brian Williams, Lauren Kate, Ally Condie, Clare Vanderpool, Al Yankovic, Mo willems, Neil Gaiman, J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Melanie Watt, Rick Riordan, Markus Zusak, Sara Shepard, Suzanne Collins, Victoria Kann, Simon Beecroft, Phillip C. Stead, Add a tag
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: February 1, 2011
Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.
THE HOT SPOTS: THE TRENDS
Winter Books: Snow, Hibernation, and More
Review: Sleepy Kittens (Despicable Me)
Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online
Best Kids’ Picture Books, 2010
THE NEW RELEASES
The most coveted books that release this month:
by Victoria Kann
(Ages 5-8)
by Al Yankovic
(Ages 4-8)
by James Patterson
(Young Adult)
by Brian Williams
(Ages 12 and up)
by Mo Willems
(Ages 4-8)
Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party
by Melanie Watt
(Ages 4-8)
THE BEST SELLERS
The best selling children’s books this month:
PICTURE BOOKS
Add a Comment