Heartbeat

Rating:
Summary: Delightful Read
Review: Although I have heard of Sharon Creech from my young adult media center specialists, I didn't experience her until reading Love That Dog. Set in the same format as Love That Dog, Heartbeat speaks to the young person in all of us who attempt at all costs to be an individual and not get caught up in "the herd." Creech writes about this need for self-identity without getting preachy or putting others down who feel the need to be associated with "a group." The manner in which she identifies a family as being more than a mom, dad, new baby is also wonderful. For in a sense, the aging grandfather; the neighbor, Mrs. Cobber, and Annie's friend, Max, are also important members of the family as well.

Rating:
Summary: CHANGE IS CONTINUOUS
Review: Annie has a lot going on in her life.

Annie's teacher tells her to draw an apple. She is excited about drawing the apple, but the longer she holds on to it the more it changes.

Annie's mom is pregnant. Annie watches the baby change. She hears the heartbeat and sees the sonogram. She is amazed.

Annie's Grandpa lives with Annie's family. He's a good grandpa, but he can't remember how to fry chicken or do other things.

Annie's friend Max joins track, but is too proud to accept hand-me-down shoes or money for new ones. Max is Annie's running partner and friend. She wants to change his mind, but how?

_Heartbeat_ is a story about change. Change is continuous; life moves on, and it's okay. Annie ponders the changes she sees, and she voices her thoughts. Sometimes she's funny and sometimes she's wise, like Grandpa. Reading _Heartbeat_, young readers will discover they are no different than Annie. Life has many views and synonyms to express them. It's a terrific addition to Creech's growing collection of juvenile books.

Actress Mandy Siegfried reads the audio version of _Heartbeat_. She gives an amusing, insightful performance.

Rating:
Summary: Simple writing that resonates
Review: Annie loves to run and draw. When her teacher assigns them to draw 100 pictures of the same apple, Annie begins to see things in different ways. Her grandfather's forgetfulness and the baby growing inside her mother are part of a rhythm, a heartbeat, that Annie begins to explore.

Simple writing underscores it's profound themes. Destined to become a classic.

Rating:
Summary: Poetry for young adults.
Review: Annie's world if full of diversites that she manages to interconnect in her poetry. With her friend Max she shares a love of running, and perhaps a first "love". School is filled with a vocabulary of forbidden words, a thesaurus, art, and aggravation. Homelife, however, is where the most poignant moments are to be found. At one end of the spectrum is her mother who is growing an alien pumpkin baby inside herself, and on the other is her grandfather, slowly dying, gradually forgetting, and bravely joking about the end.

*** Somehow, all of these various things are tied together with a consistancy and simplicity that moves along as smoothly as the heroine's races. Annie is a thoughtful girl facing ordinary challenges at a crucial time in her life. The writing is life affirming and simple, hearkening back to a quieter age. ***

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best!!!!
Review: This book was about Annie and the way she dealt with basicaly her life as a 12 year old. She likes to run with her bare feet and enjoys racing to the park with Max, her best friend. Her mother is pregnant and her grandfather is aging and can't always remember who Annie is. Sometimes he couldn't even recognize himself. This book came to life for me. It was incredible. I could feel my heart pounding and I felt like I was Annie. Sharon Creech has an amazing gift and we should all be greatful she shares it with us. I think the 2 best parts were when Annie made a small sacrifice that meant so much to someone else and when she talks about jumping off the swing in the park in with Max and questioning, "Why are we here?" This book is a must read for any one is a fan of Sharon Creech.