Turning Northward
Thursday, 3. April 2008, 20:51:29
Well, as is fairly obvious, Timothy wrote that post on April Fool's Day. If you care to see, hop on over to his blog for the post I wrote there. Nonetheless, I maintain that I intend to avoid Carla Montgomery's book on geology for the rest of my life.
As you can see, my idea of doing a book review on the first of every month went by the roadside in favor of an April Fool's joke. Instead, I will post my book review today (or tonight, rather).
The Indian in the Cupboard Series
Lynn Reid Banks' series of Indian in the Cupboard books was a family favorite when I was younger. We must have read them through at least twice, and I remember them much more distinctly than many others. While not my first recommendation to a teenager, these books are great read-alouds for families with young(er/ish) children.
Omri does not much like his birthday gift: a medicine cupboard picked up somewhere and refurbished. Nonetheless, he accepts it and puts it in his room. Days later, when he buys a plastic figure of an american indian, he unthinkingly puts it in the cupboard. The next time Omri opens the cupboard he finds a tiny, proud, and terrified indian brave staring up at him.
The boy and his indian go through all of the predictable difficulties (and some unpredictable ones) as Omri labors to provide his indian guest with food, a plot of ground, a horse, and materials to build his own longhouse (which Omri keeps under his bed). Keeping his new friend hidden from both the cat and his older brother, Omri finds his brave a fascinating, rude, demanding houseguest.
Banks' other books build on this idea of the cupboard bringing things to life--and turning them back to plastic--as Omri explores its abilities, bringing to life both a wife for his brave and a loveable cowboy. In later books Omri finds a way to go into the worlds of his plastic people. Overall, I loved this series for its humor and suspense. Perhaps not the most original of ideas, Banks does a good job with her characters and takes her plots in interesting directions.
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And that's all for tonight. I must be off to bed. Tomorrow I leave for the North (actually above the Arctic Circle! Yay!) with Mother.
As you can see, my idea of doing a book review on the first of every month went by the roadside in favor of an April Fool's joke. Instead, I will post my book review today (or tonight, rather).
The Indian in the Cupboard Series
Lynn Reid Banks' series of Indian in the Cupboard books was a family favorite when I was younger. We must have read them through at least twice, and I remember them much more distinctly than many others. While not my first recommendation to a teenager, these books are great read-alouds for families with young(er/ish) children.
Omri does not much like his birthday gift: a medicine cupboard picked up somewhere and refurbished. Nonetheless, he accepts it and puts it in his room. Days later, when he buys a plastic figure of an american indian, he unthinkingly puts it in the cupboard. The next time Omri opens the cupboard he finds a tiny, proud, and terrified indian brave staring up at him.
The boy and his indian go through all of the predictable difficulties (and some unpredictable ones) as Omri labors to provide his indian guest with food, a plot of ground, a horse, and materials to build his own longhouse (which Omri keeps under his bed). Keeping his new friend hidden from both the cat and his older brother, Omri finds his brave a fascinating, rude, demanding houseguest.
Banks' other books build on this idea of the cupboard bringing things to life--and turning them back to plastic--as Omri explores its abilities, bringing to life both a wife for his brave and a loveable cowboy. In later books Omri finds a way to go into the worlds of his plastic people. Overall, I loved this series for its humor and suspense. Perhaps not the most original of ideas, Banks does a good job with her characters and takes her plots in interesting directions.
----------
And that's all for tonight. I must be off to bed. Tomorrow I leave for the North (actually above the Arctic Circle! Yay!) with Mother.
Above the arctic circle? Wow! That's Keen! *Grin* Do you think you might get to see the Northern Lights . . . ? They usually come during March to April . . . That would be so keen if you did, definitely snap a few pictures!
*Dreams of one day going above the arctic circle* Have fun! I can't wait to hear about it when you get back!
By anonymous user, # 4. April 2008, 04:59:51