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Die Anarchie Der Buchstaben (2014)

by Kate De Goldi(Favorite Author)

3.72 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

355156003X (ISBN13: 9783551560032)

languge

English

genre

Middle Grade & Children's

publisher

Königskinder

review 1: I liked this book and finished it in one day. I had been looking forward to it after reading reviews, and while I liked it, I'm not sure it quite lived up to the reviews. This is the story of Perry, a precocious 8 year old, who pays weekly visits to her grandmother in a nursing home. Perry begins to create an alphabet book with Gran and the other residents, but she has trouble keeping them moving along in order (thus the ACB instead of ABC). There seemed to be gaps here and there. For example, it seems early on that Perry came up with the idea for a book, but as the story goes on, we find that it is a school assignment. She abruptly quit calling it the ABC book and switched to ACB with no mention of why (yes, we understand...but the narrator certainly discusses many ... moreother things fully). These things felt like oversights and left me looking to see if I missed anything. I really like Perry, the people who work at the nursing home, and the care that they all feel for the elderly residents. As you get to know the residents, you come to like them for their flaws and their spunk. Who I didn't like? Her parents. For people who were supposed to be very intelligent and concerned for making sure that this child was educated and given enrichment, they sure didn't pay any attention to her. In many ways we see her begin feeling closer to the grandmother with dementia who can't remember who she is than with her parents. Dad pays perfunctory visits to his mother, but is very unconcerned for her and distant. That was saddening.Still, I would recommend the book. Even with it's short comings, Perry, Gran, the rest of the folks at the nursing home, and the book they create make it all worthwhile in the end.
review 2: Little book with a quiet message and wonderful illustrations. I recently attended a book event with a discussion about all the exposition going on in kidlit these days. Which isn't necessarily a terrible thing. But it's refreshing to come across a book where everything is not spelled out, and where the reader can wonder about the blanks.I loved everything about Perry's relationship with Gran. Fun surprise for me: this ARC came from Random House Canada, so I assumed it was set in Canada. It was only after a couple of mentions of the seasons and the local flora that I Googled the author and learned she is from New Zealand.ALA Midwinter 2014 less

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