Skip to main content

CROSSING STONES by Helen Frost


copyright date: 2009
primarily marketed for: middle school and up

Helen Frost is one of my favorite authors.  I have adored every book I’ve read by her.  In fact, the copies of some of her books in our school library have disappeared because I am apparently not the only one who appreciates her work.  Her stories, told in poetic verse, are always moving and then I am always amazed to discover there is a specific format she follows when writing the poetry for each book.  You might remember her book Diamond Willow, which was a recent Caudill nominee. 

Crossing Stones is the story of four teenagers during World War I (two sets of brothers and sisters who are neighbors).  The boys, Frank and Ollie, end up going off to fight in the war, while the girls, Muriel and Emma, each face their own struggles at home. 

The voices of all four characters are threaded throughout the book with grace.  The poetry alternates viewpoints and includes letters written from the battlefront.  You know I love a good war book, especially one like this that contains a little romance and a little girl power, to boot! 

Muriel is torn between her feelings for Frank and her desire to remain independent and follow her own dreams by joining in the movement for women’s suffrage.  I can’t remember reading another story that gave me so much insight into the fight for women’s right to vote.  I didn’t realize how brutal it was, but it makes sense.  I am sure what is covered in this story is only a small snapshot of the truth.

The shape of the poetry echoes the characters’ intentions and lives.  It is a beautiful story, beautifully told. 

Labels:

Comments

  1. Deb DayJanuary 6, 2012 at 5:46 PM

    Do you know why I love your new blog? Because you are introducing me to so many new authors and books. I have not heard of Helen Frost, but I will sure be looking her up!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Linda BJanuary 6, 2012 at 6:12 PM

    I'm like Deb, the wish list of new ideas for books is piling up! I think you told me about Frost before, and I loved Keesha's House, so will undoubtedly love this too. I've had several students students women's history through my time in the classroom & that particular time for women was brutal. We have a lot to thank them for! Thanks for the sharing again!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green

You knew it was coming.  How could I not share?  EVERYONE MUST READ JOHN GREEN’S LATEST WORK OF ART: THE FAULT IN OUR STARS .  Throughout my life (well, at least from 4 th grade, when I was introduced to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl until now, the 7 th month of my 34 th year of noticing the universe) the name ‘Augustus’ immediately evoked an image of a chubby, stubborn, chocolate-loving boy, doted upon by his mother, with the last name of Gloop.  The name ‘Augustus’ made me giggle about this character’s gluttonous follies inside the chocolate factory. Until reading John Green’s beloved new book The Fault in Our Stars . From now on, the name ‘Augustus’ will forever evoke an entirely different image and an entirely different set of emotions.  A casually hot, lean, limping ‘Augustus Waters’ has forever replaced the ‘Augustus’ of the book I treasured as a child—an unlit cigarette held loosely between his lips.  A longing sigh ...
9 comments
Read more

A MONSTER CALLS by Patrick Ness (inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd and illustrated by Jim Kay)

“Every time the monster moved, Conor could hear the creak of wood groaning and yawning in the monster’s huge body.” In her review for the New York Times , Jessica Bruder refers to A Monster Calls as, “A story that lodges in your bones and stays there.”  This, I believe, is an understatement.  I am afraid my words, mere pixels on the screen, cannot begin to honor how truly special this book is. From his words in the Author’s Note, Patrick Ness held me spellbound.  Siobhan Dowd had developed an idea for a book about a monster and a boy whose mom had cancer.  Breast cancer cut her life short and she was unable to finish her story.  Patrick Ness, when asked to craft something from the seed of a story Dowd left behind said, “…the thing about ideas is that they grow other ideas.”  And so, A Monster Calls was born out of Dowd’s seed and Ness’s nurturing. I suppose a book with that kind of conception was bound to be incredible, but I am sure not even ...
7 comments
Read more

THE MISFITS by James Howe

copyright date: 2001 primarily marketed for: grades 4-8 In honor of No Name-Calling Week, the idea for which originated with this book, I thought I would post a review of The Misfits by James Howe.    This book has one of my favorite leads: "So here I am, not a half-hour old as a tie salesman and trying to look like I know what I am doing, which have got to be two of the biggest jokes of all time, when who should walk into Awkworth & Ames Department Store but Skeezie Tookis. " I think I like it because it is such an inviting introduction to Bobby and Skeezie, two of the four friends referred to in the book’s title.   Bobby, Skeezie, Addie, and Joe are seventh graders who decide to create their own political party to run in the student council election.   Their goal is simple: to put an end to name-calling.   Who doesn’t think that is a good idea? The wonderful things about this book aren’t limited to the positive messages about acceptance and k...
5 comments
Read more