Common Sense Media Review
Boy pours his grief into poetry in moving free-verse gem.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
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Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say that the book elicits strong emotions, with many finding it touching and relatable, especially in the development of its young protagonist. While some reviews criticize its brevity and perceived lack of detail, the majority appreciate its profound themes and poetic format that resonate with children, making it a valuable read for reluctant readers.
- emotional impact
- relatable characters
- poetic format
- mixed reviews
- simple yet profound
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In this free-verse journal Jack reluctantly comes to feel the power of poetry, and uses it to express his feelings about school, writing, poetry, Walter Dean Myers, and his late dog, Sky. Includes an appendix with most of the poems mentioned in the story.
Is It Any Good?
In this minor masterpiece, author Sharon Creech accomplishes so much with so little -- no synopsis can convey what makes this book so involving, moving, uplifting. She captures a story, a voice, a mind, a heart. She inspires readers to write their own poems and gives a meaningful demonstration of the power of the form.
While the poems at first seem unconnected, the book is in fact tightly structured, and all the way through Creech is unobtrusively weaving together strands that come poignantly together in an emotional climax. Although many children will finish this book in one or two sittings, it bears numerous rereadings and much fruitful discussion, and is a gift to parents and teachers of reluctant readers who want to help their children learn to delve more deeply into literature.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the format of the book and its effectiveness. Do you like the author's use of poetry for telling a story? Does it make the story more powerful?
How do you think writing free verse helps Jack express his feelings about his dog?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : School
- Topics : Arts , Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date : February 15, 2004
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 95
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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