Book
Summary:
Janey and her family have been moving from place to place because her dad needs the work during the difficult Depression times of the 1930’s. They finally find a home near the beautiful house that looks just like the scene on her precious blue willow plate—the single beautiful heirloom from her deceased mother.
Janey and her family have been moving from place to place because her dad needs the work during the difficult Depression times of the 1930’s. They finally find a home near the beautiful house that looks just like the scene on her precious blue willow plate—the single beautiful heirloom from her deceased mother.
A picnic at the
ideal locale under the willows, a trip to the fair with good friends the Romero
family, a new school, and dad winning the cotton-picking contest —all seems too
good to be true. But winter comes, the
rent is due and the harsh, hired man, Bounce is determined to chase them off. Then Janey’s step-mother falls ill and there
are the doctor bills. Can Janey’s willow
plate help save her new-found happy home?
APA Reference:
Gates, D. (1940/1968). Blue willow. (9th ed.). New York, NY: Scholastic Book Services.
My Impressions:
This old-time award-winner went to great lengths to explain details and three-fourths of the book was spent developing the conflict of the story. By today’s standards, this story is very slow-moving and uneventful, but the underlying elements of self-sacrifice, honesty and hard work are reinforced by a happy ending.
Professional Review:
Walker reviews this book giving recent and original publishing information, language level for ages 8-12 and a 5 star rating of excellent. The insightful comments are helpful in putting this book in perspective; “Today, it seems like historical fiction to us, but when it was published it would have been considered contemporary fiction. I call books like this “period fiction,” fiction written during what is now a historical period that accurately portrays life in that period for later generations.”
Summary is given of the Larkin family, their circumstances, the blue willow plate that is Janey’s only possession of her deceased mother’s, and the conflict that is really “the beginning of something wonderful”. The author continues with a more values-based evaluation which recommends this Newbery Medal winner.
Walker W.
S. (2010, March 6). [Review of the book Blue Willow, by D. Gates].
Home School Book Review. Retrieved from http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolbookreview/770048/.
Library Uses:
This book could be used by the many home-schooled students that use our library. Parents visit with their students and have particular books in mind to borrow when they come. This book could be used as historical fiction for the 1930’s Great Depression era, reinforcing history and literature for their curriculum.
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