What worked:
The author shares common social drama found among
seventh-grade students with tenderness and understanding. Bullying and
self-awareness are the main topics, and the stories are told through the eyes
of the different characters. The class is composed of thirteen students, which
makes the cast of school characters more manageable for readers, and different
chapters step within the minds of each student. The new girl, Orchid, is the
catalyst that sets the feelings, gossip, and relationships into turmoil, and
eventually clarity. The kids of Fawn Creek are content to keep things as
they’ve always been until Orchid indirectly causes most everyone to reevaluate
the people they’re becoming.
The author makes Orchid a pleasant, enjoyable, and
mysterious addition to the small community in Louisiana. She’s pretty and kind
to everyone, and she shares wonderful stories of her life in amazing places
across the world. She doesn’t speak badly of anyone, even when she’s provoked,
and she shows remarkable compassion when she sees others dealing with problems.
Is she too good to be real? Rumors say she might be a witch or in witness protection,
and no one knows where she lives? Classmates see her walk off into the woods,
but there aren’t any homes out there. Who is Orchid?
The main characters, Greyson and Dorothy, have been tight
friends for years, and they’re the glue holding the story together. They both
dream of leaving “Yawn” Creek and are ready to make changes. Dorothy likes
Orchid’s idea of calling herself Didi, and she imagines what her first kiss
will be like. She’s infatuated with Orchid, and the new girl motivates her to
get out of her comfort zone. Greyson has no interest in hunting and “manly”
things like his father and older brother, but he’s afraid to tell anyone that
he secretly likes to design clothes. It’s not clear if he’s going through a
sexual revelation, but it’s extremely risky to broadcast his interest in
fashion.
What didn’t work as well:
I’ve never been a huge fan of middle-school melodrama that I’ve
witnessed and read about, so the plot isn’t overly captivating for me. However,
most young readers will be able to identify with at least one of the characters
and relate to their experiences. Many readers are experiencing the same issues.
As Orchid says later in the book, Fawn Creek students represent all of the
groups you might find in any small town.
The Final Verdict:
Who am I? The book tenderly
explores the confusing culture of middle school, as all of the main characters
go through meaningful transformations. No one knows what will happen in the future,
but the kids are setting themselves up to live out their dreams. The story
deserves your attention, and I recommend you give it a shot.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments unrelated to the books being described will be removed.