Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins
Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins has perhaps been my least favorite Newbery book thus far. It just didn’t do anything for me. I was never excited to pick it up, it took me forever to read. I just didn’t get into the characters, the setting, the plot, nothing. It’s been about two weeks since I read it and I can’t remember a thing about it. So this one obviously didn’t stick with me. That doesn’t necessarily doesn’t mean it was bad because obviously it won the Newbery Medal Award. You certainly may enjoy it.
I didn’t want to leave you hanging so here is a review from Lynne Rae Perkins website:
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.
Do you know what bothered me with this one? It was told from a omniscient point of view, which I think was really weird. It made it hard to follow when we knew what all the characters were thinking.
Have you read this one? What did you think? (Tarie??)
Hi, Natasha!
My best friend Isaac just read Criss Cross - he borrowed my copy, I recommended it to him. He didn’t like how it was “slow” and how “nothing really happened,” but he liked how the characters’ thoughts were so deep and he was touched by the story.
I’ve heard that Criss Cross is one of those books that you either hate or love. I personally loved it. I read it a couple of years ago, so I’ve forgotten so many things about it. But I remember that I loved it precisely because the action is internal, not external. I don’t like all static plots, but in Criss Cross the static plot worked for me. Tee hee!
I’m looking forward to being tortured by your post on the children’s book festival. You lucky duck, you! *sobs*
on April 26th, 2008 at 3:13 am*weep weep* I love Criss Cross! And what’s more, I even got my 14y/o brother to like it. But then, I like omni POV. It’s what I write, what I enjoy reading (think Lewis, Nesbit, Eager).
I have to say, if it’s your least favorite Newbery so far, you must not have tried The Story of Mankind yet!
on April 26th, 2008 at 8:39 amI haven’t read this one, but I did try once or twice. Like Tarie said, I think you either love it or hate it. I remember hearing that quite a few people did not like it–but that could be the blog circles I run in though.
I’m not opposed to giving it a couple more tries to see if it’s a mood thing. But it’s not the top of my priorities at the moment.
In my opinion, it’s hard to read Newbery’s after they’re given. It’s easier to read them before the fame raises your expectations up too high.
on April 26th, 2008 at 11:27 amMy favorite Newberry Award book is My Side Of The Mountain by Jean Craighead George.
on April 26th, 2008 at 2:09 pmI started listening to this on tape and promptly fell asleep. Partly because the reader’s voice was so grating that my only defense was to pass out, and partly because I had no idea what the point was. There was one passage I liked though, towards the beginning, about Hector soaking up the guitar player’s music like a sponge.
on April 26th, 2008 at 5:26 pmTarie - I’ll think of you the whole time I’m there.
Noel - Oh my, I’m making a lot of people cry today. I haven’t read The Story of Mankind yet. No good, I’m guessing?
Becky - This is my first year that I’ve been reading middle grade/juvenile fiction, so I’ve got a lot of “catching up” to do. Personally, I’d just skip this one.
Theresa - I have My Side of the Mountain on my bookshelf just waiting to be read. I keep picking it every once in a while and saying, this month? But I haven’t managed to get around to it yet. I was fortunate to meet Jean Craighead George a few years ago, it was a nice experience.
on April 26th, 2008 at 11:04 pmEven though every persons opinion is different, my reading time is limited so I think I will stay away from this one.
on April 27th, 2008 at 4:46 amI really loved it! I think read it 3 times! The first time I read it was for a report (that was lame) but i really enjoyed the book.
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