Customer Reviews

Sahara Special

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Esme Raji Codell has done the impossible-- she has written a book that transported me back in time to my own school girl days, and made me realize how miraculous life can be. Sahara Special is an insightful, funny and moving tale about a troubled, but talented young girl. Codell has an incredible ear for kids' voices that makes her first person narrator feel like a best friend. I recommend this book to kids dealing with divorce, life changes, and of course, the desire to write!

Sahara Special, opens eyes!!! The book is about a young 12 year old girl, who has troubles in school. People say she is special to be mean, just because she has issues, but she is really a remarkable girl who has a dream! She wants to become a writer more than anything. Sahara lives in a bad part of Chicago, where kids don't even know who their own father is. Unfortunatly Sahara is one of those kids. Her daddy walked out on the family, and it's having a huge problem with her, she doesn't know why he walked out on her mom, and her, and hinks it's her fault. Since Sahara had issues with her dad leaving, she started writing notes and thoughts to her dad, and she'd shove them in her desk. One day while the school counsler was in the room all the notes fell out of her desk, and on to the floor. the Counsler saw the notes and actually read them, and she decided Sahara needed counseling, so they put her in this special program for challenged kids. Sahara didn't like it one bit, so she got out of it, but got held back in school. The following year in school she got a new teacher named Miss. Pointy, who was wonderful and helped Sahara realize that Sahara was special, but in a good way! This book opened my eyes to what some kids go through!! I'm glad I read it, and it has a very possitive message! The author is wonderful! I hope U read it too!!

Wow! I can't even remember why I bought this book in the first place, but I think I had something like a good vibe that proved to be very much correct.

This is about a girl going through a rather awkward time. Though she is brilliant, her behavior and ability in school put her into a resource program that earns an sadly unfortunate nickname.

It's about her world and her relationship with the people around her. As a teacher, I am reminded of how students think and that they are still children that have thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

The writing is sassy and brilliant, and the story is subtle and touching.

Simply amazing.

Like Francie Nolan in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Sahara learns to flower in the desert of city life and the absence of her father. Sahara's character is in the tradition of antiheroines or, rather, heroic young "misfits" before her, such as Mick Kelly who privately and protectively creates her music in The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter. Who will hear--or want to?

From her teacher Miss Pointy (who, despite her name, helps smooth the sharp edges of school life), Sahara learns to listen to her own mind and heart and, most touchingly, to take comfort from it.

Younger readers who live in crowded inner city neighborhoods will recognize and appreciate Esme Codell's descriptions of city and classroom life and relationships with family, friends, and teachers. Once read, older readers will want to read this book to younger ones so they can hear Sahara's special voice again.

I am an avid reader and I originally picked this one up at the library under "new releases". After growing up with "Ramona" as well as "Harriet the Spy" I thoroughly enjoyed "Saharah Special". I could easily relate to her (having had troubles in school when I was her age,) and being a writer myself.

I loved her new teacher, who just had a way with kids. I found myself drawn into this story and into Saharah's life so well, I was actually disappointed to have it end.

Bravo to Esme, I hope you write more about Saharah!

This book reminded me why I teach. Each child is so special, even if others don't always see it. The author paints beautiful mind pictures with words that flow perfectly. I was impressed and am now a big fan!

This was a really good book, like none that I've never read before. "Sahara Special" is magical (not in the ways of Harry Potter), it's enchanting, it's intriguing, it uses words in such a way that you've never imagined it before. The metaphors in the book make it 10x better, and you have to agree with me that Ms. Pointy, the teacher in this book, is the best teacher that ever could be. Also, there's this really bad boy in the story, known as Darrell, and I have to say, it took a genious to make him how he was in the book. Esme Raji Codell wrote this as her first novel, and you only know that her writing skills will get better as time passes. A first novel, and it's so good already! Sahara Special makes me wonder about why I ever thought school as boring, since you can have so many adventures once you turn the corner. This is truly the best book I've ever read, and I doubt that anyone could replace the impression that Sahara Special left in my heart forever. You have to read Sahara Special, and hopefully I've already convinced you to do so.

I am a middle school Language Arts teacher from Florida where SAHARA SPECIAL is among the 15 books selected as Sunshine State Young Readers recommended books for the 2005-2006 school year. Having read all 15 books this summer, a few stood out as being worth a 5 star rating; SAHARA SPECIAL is one of those books.

Were I to be asked to teach dialogue using a young adult (YA) novel, I would certainly choose this book from this list (which also includes the excellent YA titles: WHEN MY NAME WAS KEOKO, GRANNY TOREELI MAKES SOUP, THE UNSEEN and AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS -- I would also highly recommend the superb SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson). Codell has a natural affinity to the way 10 year-olds speak, think and interact. This story is very funny and very moving as well. As a teacher, I look on with awe on any teacher (even a fictional one -- as Miss Pointy seems very real to me) can teach an individual and not a class or a book or a lesson.

I highly recommend this book.

[I will not reveal any more of the story than other commentators already have as I feel that the joy of the reading is in discovering what comes next.]

You need to read this book! It's about a girl who's just been pulled out of Special Ed, now facing the challenges of a regular classroom. Her new teacher, Miss Pointy, is very different teaching strange subjects and giving special advice. This novel can show you what it's like to be in Sahara's shoes. It really brings out the crazy and touching parts of life. Reading this book was a great experience!

It's a quick, easy read you probably won't struggle with.

Sahara Special is comedy and drama blended together with rich character. Sahara's father leaves her, and she is heartbroken. She writes letters to him, telling him she loves him, and misses him. After she writes her letters she has no idea where to mail them, so she keeps them in her desk, hoping nobody will find them. One day the letters tumble out at her feet, and her teachers feet too. Sahara's teacher insists that she be put in Special Education. When Miss. Pointy comes though, things change. She doesn't believe in Special Education and she is like no other teacher. Sahara hopes to make a new start. Miss. Pointy and her beliefs support Sahara to show her true self. Esme Raji Codell wrote Sahara like a dream. Sahara was a talented girl, She changes throughout the book. Codell made the change gradual, so she changed slowly along the way. Codell wrote Sahara Special like a regular book, but there was something in the character and the description. I personally felt like I was in the book, right by Sahara's side.