*When I saw this title at the local bookstore earlier this month, it reminded me I had a copy of the book I received at #NCTE19 in Baltimore. I came home from the bookstore, found the ARC in my pile, and began reading.
What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
1. *Ware believes in "Magic Fairness Land".
2. *Jolene believes in the "real world".
3. *After Ware's grandmother falls on his "watch", his parents inform him he will now have to spend his summer at the "Rec". This does not sit well with Ware.
4. *On his arrival on the first day, Ware bypasses the summer Rec center, and heads over to the empty lot next door. It is here that he encounters Jolene.
5. *Each of them have their reasons for spending the next several weeks in the abandoned lot while trying to make sense of the "magic land" and the "real world".
What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
1. *This middle-grade novel was beautifully written and told. I so enjoyed the last few days of reading about the world in which Ware and his new friend Jolene exist.
2. *Ware and Jolene were from two completely different worlds and believed in opposite "views", but were able to find each other somewhere in the middle.
3. *The view in which Ware had on his world was authentic, sensitive, and handled with grace. He is a character that I don't soon forget.
4. *Jolene added a complex dimension to the overall plot and I enjoyed getting to know her, her backstory, and how she was able to have an impact on Ware.
5. *The pages were filled with lots of life-lessons and important messages that young readers will be able to apply to their own lives.
Who Should Read It:
*After reading, I would say the story is best suited for readers in grades four, five, and six. The book would also be perfect for the middle-school reader. If you know of a mature young reader, who is sensitive and keenly aware of their own world, this is definitely the novel for them. Happy Reading!
Rating: 5 STARS out of 5 Stars
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