Criss Cross (Newbery Medal Book) - Harry Potter 6 Books

Product Description

Debbie is wishing something would happen. Something good. To her. Soon. In the meantime, Debbie loses a necklace and finds a necklace (and boy does the necklace have a story to tell), she goes jeans shopping with her mother (an accomplishment in diplomacy), she learns to drive shift in a truck (illegally), she saves a life (directly connected to being able to drive, thus proving something), she takes a bus ride to another town (in order to understand what it feels like to be from "elsewhere"), she meets a boy (who truly is from "elsewhere"), but mostly she hangs out with her friends: Patty, Hector, Lenny, and Phil. Their paths cross. Their stories crisscross. And in Lynne Rae Perkins's remarkable book, a girl and her wish grow up. Illustrated throughout with black–and–white pictures, comics, and photographs by the author.

Ages 10+

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39637 in Books
• Brand: BIGTOFFICE
• Published on: 2005-09-01
• Released on: 2005-08-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 3.00 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Features

• CHILDRENS BOOKS & MUSIC
• Early Childhood
• Books

From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 6-9–The author of the popular All Alone in the Universe (HarperCollins, 1999) returns with another character study involving those moments that occur in everyone's life–moments when a decision is made that sends a person along one path instead of another. Debbie, who wishes that something would happen so she'll be a different person, and Hector, who feels he is unfinished, narrate most of the novel. Both are 14 years old. Hector is a fabulous character with a wry humor and an appealing sense of self-awareness. A secondary story involving Debbie's locket that goes missing in the beginning of the tale and is passed around by a number of characters emphasizes the theme of the book. The descriptive, measured writing includes poems, prose, haiku, and question-and-answer formats. There is a great deal of humor in this gentle story about a group of childhood friends facing the crossroads of life and how they wish to live it. Young teens will certainly relate to the self-consciousnesses and uncertainty of all of the characters, each of whom is straining toward clarity and awareness. The book is profusely illustrated with Perkins's amusing drawings and some photographs.–B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Library, Sag Harbor, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Gr. 6-9. This lyrical sequel to All Alone in the Universe (1999), a Booklist Editor's Choice, begins with one of many black-and-white drawings and a caption that reads, "People move back and forth in this area like molecules in steam." As the title and caption imply, this story reads like a series of intersecting vignettes--all focused on 14-year-old Debbie and her friends as they leave childhood behind. Perkins writes with subtle, wry humor about perceptive moments that will speak directly to readers: universe-expanding crushes, which fill the world with "signs and wonder"; scornful reappraisals of childhood things (Debbie's disdain for Nancy Drew is particularly funny); urgent concerns about outfits, snappy retorts, and self-image. Perkins adds many experimental passages to her straightforward narrative, and she finds poetry in the common exchanges between teens. One section of dialogue, written entirely in haiku, reads, "Jeff White is handsome, / but his hair is so greasy. / If he would wash it--." A few cultural references set the book in the 1970s, but most readers will find their contemporaries in these characters. Best of all are the understated moments, often private and piercing in their authenticity, that capture intelligent, likable teens searching for signs of who they are, and who they'll become. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Lynne Rae Perkins was awarded the Newbery Medal for Criss Cross. She is the author of one other book for teens—All Alone in the Universe, a companion to Criss Cross. Lynne Rae Perkins has also written and illustrated several picture books, including The Broken Cat; Snow Music, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book and a Book Sense Top Ten Pick; and Pictures from Our Vacation. The author lives with her family in northern Michigan.

Customer Reviews

Just OK
This book has swear words and the story jumps around alot. It's hard to keep track of who the author is talking about.

An enchanting novel
Criss Cross is a wonderfull book of friendship, self-realization, and growing up. It is printed in many different ways and forms that make it fun to read. I must be honest in saying it is sometimes a bit confusing, but you always get caught up later on in the story. The author gives you just enough descriptions to be able to get a good picture in your mind and still allow you to use your imagination. She also adds in some comedy here and there to make the read a pleasurable one. The plot is hard to identify, but in the end the author's intention comes through and everything makes sense. I would recommend it to young adults and adults. A grand book I think you will enjoy.
P.S. Although you may get frustrated early on don't give up. The ending makes it all worth while!

BORING!!!
Talk about stupid! The minute I started the first chapter, I knew it was a waste of time. Turns out I was right! I gave up and quit reading it about halfway through. There isn't even a plot! It's just blah-blah-blah!