Fourth Grade Journey

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

Saturday, September 14, 2019

The World Ends in April by Stacy McAnulty

How I Heard About It:  Stacy McAnulty was so kind and sent an ARC of her upcoming novel.  This novel will be shared with my #bookexpedition Twitter group.  I so enjoyed her first novel so was definitely looking forward to reading what she came up with the second time around.  The novel was released into the world on September 3, 2019.  

What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:  
1.  *We all have a "bucket list".  Most of us want to accomplish and experience certain things during our lifetime.  What would happen to that bucket list if the world were going to end.

2.  *That is what Eleanor and her friends are faced with.

3.  *Even when Eleanor's grandfather always made the family "practice" for the END, she thought it was a bunch of silliness. 

4.  *After seeing a report from a world renowned scientist, Eleanor begins to believe that an asteroid just may hit planet Earth.

5.  *She and her friends begin a "nature club" which is really a group of students that want to make sure they are ready for the "end".  


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
1.  *I so enjoyed the story of Eleanor, her friends, and family.  

2.  *The plot moved along at a perfect pace, kept my interest the entire reading experience, provided a chuckle or two, and warmed my heart on more than one occasion.  

3.  *The friendship between Eleanor and her BBF, Mack, was the type of friendship all children deserve.  I could feel their closeness jumping off the page.  

4.  *Another strong aspect of the story was the transition that Eleanor and her arch "enemy" took while preparing for the end of the world.  

5.  *I'm a sucker for stories full of "life-lessons" and Stacy's novel provided many important themes about friendship, acceptance, and finding your true calling.  


Who Should Read It:    I know this story would be awesome for a class read aloud in grades three through six.  There are so many elements that would keep the listeners on the edge of their seats.  Individual readers in grades four, five, and six would easily be able to handle content.  Being that the characters are in middle-school, any middle-school reader looking for a new and exciting novel, should take a look at this one.  Happy Reading!  


Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars




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