by Sharon Creech
Salamanca Tree Hiddle (Sal) is driving across the country with her eccentric grandparents in an attempt to find and bring her mother home. In an effort to prevent her grandparents from talking about her mother (and to keep Sal's mind off of her grandfather's erratic driving), she tells them about her friend Phoebe Winterbottom and the lunatic. As the story progresses both Sal and the reader learn that weaved into Phoebe's story is Sal's own story of love, loss, and new beginnings.
There are MAJOR SPOILERS in this review. Sorry, I just don't know how to do it without them.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it is a really moving story about a little girl (well, a 13 year old) coming to terms with her mother's very untimely death, compounded by the fact that her mother left unannounced to "find" herself. I think some of the feelings and emotions expressed by Sal are feelings that any youngish person would feel in her situation, and I think if I had been in the same boat, this book would have really meant something to me. The scene in Lewiston was particularly well done.
On the other hand, the story is just so random. Particularly the story of the Winterbottom's and the supposed lunatic. The entire time Sal was telling the story, it just felt so melodramatic and frustrating. What era was the story supposed to be set in? Are there any mother's today that are really in the same position as Mrs. Winterbottom? Especially someone who didn't appear to be overly religious, her predicament just didn't make sense. And the scene where Phoebe's mom kisses the lunatic grossed me out. I had to return the book I borrowed, so I can't look it up, but the impression I had was that Sal saw them kiss, like lovers, instead of a kiss that would have been appropriate for a birth mother to her long lost birth son.
Overall, I did enjoy the story, and I really do think that it might be comforting to a young person who has lost someone close to them. It was just a bit dramatic for my tastes.
3.5 out of 5 stars
3 comments:
My husband is very fond of this book, but I've never been able to bring myself to read it. It just sounds so... odd.
I read this book last year and you said it all it your review. DIFFERENT
It is a different book - especially for a children's book, I think that is why I like it so much
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