Welcome to the Walk Two Moons book club discussion. Post a comment to share your initial impressions of the novel, Creech's craft, and implications for the classroom. Then read (or return to read) others' comments. Reply to them in order to have an on-going dialogue related to the book. Enjoy participating in a community of readers! You might also consider visiting the Bloomability book club discussion to see thoughts on another one of Creech's book and to join in on the conversation.
Dear colleagues,
ReplyDeleteI thought this book related well to the previous I have read of hers. She is a great writer: however this book transitioned from the story the child was telling to the story the child was living. There are times I found this a little distracting. Overall, I thought the book was okay.
Hey everyone,
ReplyDeleteIt took me awhile to get through this book, I felt like you Sarah, I felt I was lost alot of the times between going back and forth. I have read other books that the author does this, but for some reason I could not keep up. However, toward the end I did like how she tied everything together. And yes, I will admit, I did cry. I still am lost on what Phoebe had to do with the story except that she lived next door to Mrs. Cadaver.
I felt like Phoebe's storyline was important because it was also about Sal. Phoebe's family events simply added minor support to the bigger story of Sal trying to experience her mother's journey. Sal's grandparents wanted to hear about what Sal was doing and her adventures, each adventure also tied back to Sal's mother, her previous experiences, etc.
DeleteI agree with jenn in the fact that Phoebe's stroy was a way for the grandparent's to get an idea of what was happening in Sal's life. How would we know that she had a crush on a boy if she hadn't told the story in the manner that she did?
DeleteI thought going back and forth was a different way to create the story line. This is the reason the grandparents are so intersted in phoebe.
I think that the author had Sal tell the story of Phoebe was to give more information about Sal and the kind of person she was, what kind of people she hung out with, how she felt about those people, and the things they did together. I thought it was a great way to further describe the kind of person Sal was without coming straight out and saying it.
DeleteI am still unsure.I like yor explantion Taralynn, it was a good way to tell what kind of person Sal was. She was able to help Phoebe with her problems because she herself had been through it. She was also able to see herself through the eyes of her friend and let go of some of her anger she had built up.
DeleteHello everyone,
ReplyDeleteMy initial reactions to this book over all include: it didn't pull me in as well as other books I've read, I really had to push my way through the first two or three chapters. I agree with Sara and Amy, it was distracting to have the back-and-forth. There were a few things that I felt were just put in to "fluff" the story, mostly the school-related parts. Finally, I think that overall, it was a good book. I cried too, Amy. I wasn't expecting that at all. I think that Creech did a great job leading up to that ending, with little obvious foreshadowing.
I didn't cry while I read this story, but I usually don't get emotional while reading books. I think that the "fluff" was put in to give better insight into Sal's background. Something that I also found kind of relatable to the stories was the fact that people tell stories like these on long car trips. That is the best thing to do to fill in time on car rides, so that made me like them even more.
DeleteLooking back at all my examples of "fluff", you're right. They were just more insight to who Sal was, and what she was going through.
DeleteI thought this book was very good. The plot is complex, but written in a way that younger readers can understand. I enjoyed the way it went between Sal's present story and her past because it gave a lot of insight and background to all of the characters. I think that the title explains the book well--everyone has a story, a history, a background and no one can fully understand another's journey unless they walk the same journey. That is why Sal and her grandparents were taking the same trip that her mother did. Sal was desperate to undertand what her mother had gone through, and until she did she couldn't accept the truth of what had happened.
ReplyDeleteThere is alot of descriptive writing that portrays the confusion and pain of a young girl as well as what she is like as a person. One of my favorite descriptive lines was, "My father says I lean on broken reeds and will get a face fullof swamp mud one day," (Location 143 of 2793 on my Kindle Edition).
Though it is written with only a female main character, I think the bit of mystery and adventure that the girls go through could also draw in the interest of boys.
I didn't like how the first few chapters were a bit slow. They could have moved more quickly, but I feel like they gave a strong impression of the pain and heartache that Sal and both of her parents were going through after the still-birth of her baby sister. This key event was the catalyst for the rest of the events that unfolded in the story. The way the story ended gave me a feeling of closure becuase Sal was finally able to accept the whole story, she had the closure she needed to move on from the loss of her mother.
Jen, I agree with you. I enjoyed this story as well and liked how it went from past to present time (after I got the hang of reading a story like this). I think the growth of Sal is a great thing for children to read about. We all face trials and loss in our lives but we can move on from that and grow from tragedy. I think the author did a great job of giving background information of all the character in a fresh new way. I was a little worried that Phoebe's mother was doing something with the college aged boy that wouldn't be too moral so I was relieved when it was her son. I thought that may have been a little inappropriate for young adults. Overall though it was a great book.
DeleteI agree that the ending of the book brought closure, I also liked that they followed her mothers steps, something that might not of been important in the beginning but in the end was very important. However, I did not like that the grandmother died, I felt that their was already one tragedy in the book, we didn't need another. I new something was going to happen when she got bit by the snake. What about the boy who kept sucking posion out of her grandmas leg, what was the point of this boy?
DeleteAmy I agree about the boy, that was a little weird. He was there and then he was gone. Maybe the auther intended for him to also represent not understanding another person's story?
DeleteI think the boy was in the book to show us that people can be changed by the kindness of other people. I felt like that was going to do harm to the people/steal their stuff but since Sal and her grandparents acted like he wasn't harmful or a threat it made him rethink what he was about to do. I also think too thought that it was another way of representing the untold story of someone.
DeleteI like what you are saying about the kindness directed towards the boy. I didn't think of that.
DeleteI didn't think about it that way, but maybe that was they authors point is to show that we can change someones life by touching that life briefly. It only took that boy a little bit of time to come to their help but if they hadent' needed him, where would he be. He helped give Sal and her grandpa a little more time with Sals grandma, a few more "this isn't our marriage bed, but it will do"
DeleteWhen I was getting ready to read this book I was looking at the front cover and I did not have high hopes for this book. I then read the summary on the back of the book and still wasn't excited but after reading the book I actually really enjoyed it. I was intrigued from the beginning. I was engaged by the untold stories in the book. I thought the format of the book (from Sal's point of view) was a great way to tell the story of her mother, family, friends, and the events that lead up to her roadtrip with her grandparents. It was a little confusing to follow the story at first because it kept switching from present time to things that had happened before the present but after I got use to the format of switching back and forth I thought it was a great.
ReplyDeleteI also liked the issues the book portrayed. I think this would be a great book for young adult readers. It shows how courageous young people can be in times sorrow and loss. It also has many issues and stories that young people can relate to. This book would definitely engage young adults in this area because we live so close to Idaho and some children may have even been to Lewiston. This book also had some great information about the Native American culture.
Taralynn I really like the many untold stories. I am sure that Sal's persepective changed the story quite a bit from what it may have been, but by doing so it made the storyline very relatable to younger readers.
DeleteI was disapointed in the description of where the crash happened. I used to live in that area and the way it was described does not match at all the terrain of dropping into the valley; however, that aside I agree that local students would love the fact that the story would partially take place in our neck of the woods.
I agree with you about students being able to relate to the story. The only reason I picked this story was the part about it being in Idaho, so you know that others will do the same.
DeleteThis book took a while to pull me in even though I had read and liked another book by this author. The idea of sal tellng her story through a narrative of her friend.
ReplyDeleteThis worked well for her grandparents to get a glimpse of Sal's interests and concerns. I find ths to be vital as a parent and friend to many teens.
I loved the way the artist had Sal take a trip with her grandparents. It places an importance on the family unit even though there was massive distance within it. The author also showed emphasis in the family unit through Pheobe's family. It also showed the crazy desicions we make in life make an impact on the family and their friends.
It also had amazingly strong emphasis on the importance of close friends. Sal and Pheobe became closer even though they drove each other nuts at times. They were able to rely on each other for a bed to sleep in, mysteries to solve and of course trouble to get into.
Over all the book had interesting parts and I am glad I read it.
Hey Guys!
ReplyDeleteWhen I picked this story, I really didn't know what I was in for. I had heard the title before, but never knew what it was about. While I was reading this story, there were parts that seemed to go faster than others. I really enjoyed reading the flashbacks because it gave me an idea about who Sal really was. The closer that I got to the end of the story, the more I didn't want to put it down. The turn that the story took about the bus was something that I didn't see coming. When I got to this point, everything started to come together. Every part of the story was neccessary for the story to really come together. This story has just enough raw emotion in it to make you feel like these events are happening to you. I am really glad that I had the chance to read it.
I think that this book should be included in the classroom just because it is very relatable for kids in this area. One of the main reasons that I picked this story was because it mentioned an area in Idaho that my Dad grew up in, so I became interested. There will be many students that might want to read this for that same reason.
I like stories that have intertwined parts that are linked in a way that is not immediately obvious. I enjoy the suspense of finding those links. I know some said that the format was difficult for them to read, but based on this idea I think that I would enjoy it. Thanks Adam!
DeleteAdam, I think you are right the bus was surpising turn that I didn't expect. I'm not sure what I expected Sal to discover about Sal's mom, but I was surprised towards the end. The flashbacks helped the story alot and I agree that it exposed Sal a lot.
ReplyDeleteAdam, great point! We all love Idaho or we would not be here. Thaat alone was a good reason to read this book. I want to have books like this in my classroom just because people like you are going to be in there. This is something they are able to relate to. (Lining to prior background knowledge is one of our teaching strategies we really emphasized in our ESOL courses.)
ReplyDelete