The Ballad of Lucy Whipple

Rating:
Summary: Maybe it's just me.....
Review: Maybe I just prefer the Middle Ages to the California Gold Rush. Maybe's it's just that all the descriptions of dust, bad food, and outdoor toileting facilities reminded me of my miserable summer camp in the Sierras. I enjoyed her previous two books so very much, that I couldn't believe how hard it was to get through this one. In her medieval books, the story is compelling and the historical details feel necessary; I felt this book's plot was merely an excuse for lots of miner slang and unpleasant personal hygeine details. Those things are interesting in themselves, but are available in history books and primary sources, even for children. This felt more like a history lesson and less like a novel than any of her previous work.

Rating:
Summary: It kept us turning the pages.
Review: My daughter and I read this book at the same time for our mother-daughter book club. My daughter related to the strong female protagonist, Lucy. I also liked Lucy, because of her love of books, her persistence in the face of difficulty, and her willingness to grow. I liked the fact that she renamed herself (an idea I've always been attracted to), and I enjoyed the clever little chapter synopses at the beginning of each chapter. We also both learned alot about the gold rush.

Rating:
Summary: heh
Review: ok, i dunno if this will help anyone but my class read this when i was in 5th grade and my best friend and i found the weird analogies and thoughts tremendously funny. plus karen cushman is an excellent writer and this book is educational and interesting, if that counts for anything.

Rating:
Summary: Eeeeeck....
Review: Ok....Maybe it wrong of me to hate this book..... but I hate this book! It was soo boooring! I fell asleep twice while reading it. I personally don't fancy this book but I'm not sure whether you'll like it or not. If you like stories about the California Gold rush and men trying court a 15 year old's mom--- try this book. Ugh.

Rating:
Summary: It's a wonderful choose
Review: the balled of lucy whipple by karen cushman Have you ever had to move away from some family members? Well california did or should i say "lucy". California used to live in Massachusetts but her father died so they moved to california. She wanted to change her name to lucy because she didn't like the state of california, and she wanted a better name. As she starts to get used to Lucky Diggins,her mother gets married and she's moving to Sandwich Island away from Lucky Diggins. Will Lucy go find out yourslf, read the book because i relly liked it.

Rating:
Summary: I though the book was boring with way to much detail.
Review: The book was dull and carried on too much with one subjuct. Karen decribed the chatcters and their emotions very well to the point were it was like they were life like. The events though and sometimes the not so importent charters were a little confusing.

Rating:
Summary: An exelent, realisic read
Review: This a wonderfully realistic book about a girl with values, a girls we can all relate to some time or another. I like this book because, mainly, of the charectors and how real it seems. I'ts almost like you are there in the gold rush with Lucy, saving up gold in a pickle crock and trying to read Ivanhoe in between washing the dishes and making dinner for a tent full of dirty men trying to strike it rich. This is good book for anyone who likes realistic fiction, and a supurb heroine who wants to go back east.

Rating:
Summary: great history featuring girls who are independent thinkers
Review: This book is especially fun to read this year, the 150th anniversary of the Calif. Gold Rush. I've read it to my 8 year-old daughter, who loved every page and is sad that it's over. We were both moved to tears several times, and had good conversations about family, and about what it must have been like then. Cushman weaves great sagas set in other times, but the themes are very relevant--her characters are well developed and sympathetic. I wish there were more--we've already read Catherine Called Birdy, but Lucy is my favorite! More!

Rating:
Summary: OK
Review: THis book is OK as good as Karen Cushman can write. All Cushman writes about is ungreatful and bratty kids. The ending is good, though.

Rating:
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: This book was about a spunky girl named California Morning Whipple. California resents her widowed mother's decision to move the family from Massachusetts to California, so in anger she changes her name to Lucy (Her logic: "I can't hate California and be California). Over the next couple of years, she has innumerable adventures in the rough-and-tumble mining town of Lucky Diggins - and learns that home is closer than she thinks.