Fourth Grade Journey

A Fourth Grade Teacher's Journey Through the World of Books

Sunday, October 7, 2018

Very Rich by Polly Horvath

How I Heard About It:  I have read other Polly Horvath novels and have enjoyed them.  I was excited to see she had a new book out.  I didn't know what the plot line was so it was going to be "cold" read.  


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:  

1.  *Rupert is the main character.  He is ten years old and comes from a very poor family.  There is little food, little money, and no extras in life.  

2.  *While taking a walk to school, on Christmas no less, Rupert comes across a very large home and is "accidentally" thrown into their yard.  It is here that his adventure begins.  

3.  He learns that a classmate, Turgid Rivers, lives in this mansion.  Turgid invites Rupert in where the two boys end up celebrating Christmas with Turgid's large and unusual family.  

4.  After "losing" what he "gained" during this initial visit, Rupert goes back to his own life and poverty.  A few days later, both Turgid's mother and uncle show up and invite him to "follow" them.

5.  He has more than one magical adventure with the members of Turgid's family and "travels" to worlds that he never dreamed existed.  


What I Thought Of It:  When I first started the novel, I was excited and enjoyed the story.  It was so enjoyable reading about Rupert and his first exposure to the Rivers' family.  They were rich, different, and had some mighty magical elements about them.  After Rupert's first visit, the story lost me a bit.  He went on one grand adventure with Mrs. River that was kind of bizarre.  He also went on a second journey with Turgid's uncle and that section of the book was even more bizarre.  What I thought was going to be a realistic fiction story, I learned it was more of a fantasy and time travel type story.  


Who Should Read It:  The novel would be best suited for readers in grades five and six.  Of course middle-school readers would also be appropriate for the story.  Children that enjoy reading about time travel, wacky families, and wild adventures; will definitely enjoy the story.  Happy Reading!  



Rating:  3 STARS out of 5 Stars


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