|
The Book of Changes
Wynne-Jones, Tim.
Grades 6 - 9 / Ages 11 - 14. |
Tim Wynne-Jones's first collection of stories, Some of the Kinder Planets, won the 1993 Governor General's Award for Children's Literature and the Canadian Library Association Children's Book of the Year Award. Readers who chuckled their way through that collection enjoying the author's ability to create wonderfully humourous and believable characters and situations will not be disappointed in The Book of Changes.
The seven stories which make up this collection all deal in some way with the theme of courage and personal integrity. Each of the protagonists must battle with a problem only too familiar to today's young adults. In "The Clark Beans Man" Dwight has to learn how to cope with a bully. Tobias wrestles with an overdue class project, Solly finds living in a "Mad House" with his eccentric family frustrating, and Barnsey discovers on Christmas Day that his parents are breaking up. Relationships between the multi-faceted characters in Wynne-Jones's stories are complex, dialogue convincing, and each story true to the voice of its young protagonist. Despite serious themes, all seven have a light ironic touch which makes them pure pleasure to read.
These stories are rich enough in character and theme to make wonderful discusssion pieces for students from Grade 6 up. Several of the stories would make excellent read-alouds for upper elementary and junior high school students. Highly recommended.
To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.
Copyright © 1998 the Manitoba Library Association.
Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice
is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without
permission.
Published by
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - JUNE 16, 1995.
AUTHORS |
TITLES |
MEDIA REVIEWS |
BACK ISSUES |
SEARCH |
ORDER |
CMARCHIVE |
HOME
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364