Blue Willow [Paperback]

Doris Gates (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

A little girl, who wants most of all to have a real home and to go to a regular school, hopes that the valley her family has come to, which so resembles the pattern on her treasured blue willow plate, will be their permanent home.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (September 30, 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140309241
• ISBN-13: 978-0140309249
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read-Aloud for the 6-10 crowd, September 14, 2000

By 

Footnotes Bookshop (Wilmore, KY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Willow (Paperback)

I began reading this book aloud to my daughters, ages 6 and 7. I was very impressed with the quality of writing, and the plot held the attention of all three of us. The best read-alouds are the ones in which the children beg for "one more chapter" and the adult reader enthusiastically complies. This book met both criteria.

The most impressive aspect of this book was its ability to be a very upbeat, positive story while not shrinking away from the sad details of poverty. The family was uncomfortable and sometimes sad in the midst of poor housing, a starvation diet, and ill health, while still enjoying the stability and joy of an intact family. It also has a wonderful (but slightly unbelievable) happy ending.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice children's book with a happy ending!, February 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blue Willow (Paperback)

This is a nice story about a young girl who yearns for a home that she can call her own. Janey travels with her father and stepmother to wherever her father can find seasonal work.Her most valued possession is a Blue Willow plate that belonged to her mother, who died when she was young. Finally the family settles in a place where Janey makes friends, but it is inevitable that they will have to leave when there is no more work. When her mom falls ill, Janey departs with her precious plate. This story has a happy ending where good triumphs over bad, and there is a great focus on the love between family members. It's a little sappy, but we can all use that kind of ending now and then

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking, November 28, 1999

By 

"tcarson" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Willow (Paperback)

I enjoyed reading this book with my 8 year old daughter. It is a very touching story about a family who lives on the move and does not have many of the things that families take for granted...like a real home, friends, the reassuring familiarity of school and daily routines. It is a thought provoking look at a very different sort of life. I think it made my daughter appreciate some of the things she just assumed that everyone has. It's an advanced read. More of a book to read together as the words are somewhat difficult and the storyline sometimes needs some explanation. But the characters are wonderful and good triumphs over evil in the end. We love a happy ending! I'm sure we will read it often over the years.