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Summary: Great Emotional Conflicts
Review: Blue Willow is a story of family and compassion that is well understood by all ages. It tells of what extremities you go through to take care of your family. I read this book when I was younger, and just recently I read it again. It still has a great effect on me.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Example of Personal Integrity
Review: Blue Willow is one of the books that I keep in my bookcase and read on a monthly basis because the basic truths it reveals bring you back to real life. It describes clearly the depth of a child's emotions and reminds adults that very few children live in a child's world nowadays. The world is a lot greyer with much less black and white to make decisions easier. I read this and "The Little Princess" often to keep my perspective. It also sets an excellent example of personal integrity. I wish there had been a follow up book with more of Janey's personality explored.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice story with sharing and selflessness as theme
Review: From back of book- written in 1940 incidentally:
Janey Larkin can't remember when she's lived in the same place for more than a year. her family has to keep moving so that her father can find work. But Janey longs for a real home and the chance to make friends.When Mom gets sick and the Larkin's don't have rent money, Janey offers to pay rent with her beloved treasure- the beautiful blue willow plate that once belonged to her great-great- grandmother. Losing the plate seems like the end of the world to Janey, but it's really the beginning of something wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: Good story, but I didn't like the adults that much.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read-Aloud for the 6-10 crowd
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read-Aloud for the 6-10 crowd
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Thought Provoking
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Thought Provoking
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Excellant book-very accurate description of life in CA
Review: I grew up in the Central Valley in California, among the agricultural life described by Mrs. Gates in Blue Willow. Her descriptions of the heat, the landscape, the people, and the fair are so accurate I feel like I am living there again as a child. Her insights into the life of the itinerate farm worker are so touching and real. I highly recommend this book to anyone who want to see what life was like in the Central Valley.
Rating:
Summary: Excellant book-very accurate description of life in CA
Review: I grew up in the Central Valley in California, among the agricultural life described by Mrs. Gates in Blue Willow. Her descriptions of the heat, the landscape, the people, and the fair are so accurate I feel like I am living there again as a child. Her insights into the life of the itinerate farm worker are so touching and real. I highly recommend this book to anyone who want to see what life was like in the Central Valley.
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