Author: Sharon Creech

Publisher: HarperTrophy; Reprint edition

Pub. in: September, 1996

ISBN: 0064405176

Pages: 288

Measurements: 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches

Origin of product: USA

Order code: BC00412

Other information: ISBN-13: 978-0064405171

The winner of 1995 Newbery Medal.

Sharon Creech's recognition as a children's author increased dramatically when she received the Newbery Medal for Walk Two Moons in 1995. This beautifully written novel offers the story of thirteen year old Salamanca Tree Hiddle as she journeys with her grandparents in search of her mother. Sal leaves her home in the rural farmland of Bybanks, Kentucky for Euclid, Ohio with her father after her mother has left home and headed out west. From Euclid, Sal embarks on an excursion with Gram and Gramps, her father's parents, towards Lewiston, Idaho where they hope to reunite with Sal's mother. Interestingly, the fictional Bybanks is based on the home of Creech's cousins and the route that Sal takes to Idaho is the same that Creech took on a family vacation when she was twelve. Creech sites noteworthy landmarks along the way such as the Badlands of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore, and Old Faithful at Yellowstone. Sal's adventures with her grandparents are only one portion of the story. As they travel, Sal recounts her experiences with the eccentric Phoebe Winterbottom while living in Euclid. Phoebe lives in a household of little affection and also ends up confronting the fact that her mother has left home. As Phoebe's story unfolds through Sal's words, the experiences of the two girls seem to parallel. Sal even mentions at the beginning of the book, "beneath Phoebe's story was another one. Mine."

Through Sal's reflections, readers are introduced to many unique characters: There is Sal's dad who seems constantly distant and grieving over his separation from Sal's mother. There is Mrs. Cadaver, the nurse and Sal's dad's friend who Phoebe suspects to be a murderer. There is Mrs. Partridge, Mrs. Cadaver's blind mother, who has an eerie sense of people's ages, relatives, emotions, etc. There is Mr. Birkway, Sal's overly enthusiastic English teacher who turns out to be Mrs. Cadaver's brother. There is Mary Lou Finney, a character who first appeared in Absolutely Normal Chaos, and her cousin Ben who turns out to be a romantic interest for Sal. There is Phoebe and the rest of the Winterbottom family who all seem to be so wrapped up in the details of their lives that they fail to notice each other. There is the mysterious young man that Phoebe labels "the lunatic" who actually ends up being her brother. There is Gram and Gramps, Sal's adventuresome grandparents who would get into more trouble if Sal was not around. There is Sal's mother, Chanhassen, with her beautiful spirit yet frequent insecurity who readers meet through flashbacks. And then there is Sal, who through all these people and the circumstances that surround them, begins to discover herself. It is as if this journey she has been on has allowed her to grow up, to understand herself, to accept the live she has been given. Sal lets readers know that things aren't perfect, but that they will be ok.

Walk Two Moons offers a wonderful example of realistic fiction. Sal and all of the people she encounters through her experiences are true to life characters who deal with real life situations of family dysfunction, growing up, loss, and identity searching. The places in the book are either real or based upon realistic places. As mentioned earlier, Bybanks is a fictional town based on a real town in Kentucky. Euclid is an actual place where Creech was born. And the route that Sal and her grandparents take is filled with so many real landmarks that it could be followed on a map. The series of events that takes place is certainly plausible. Separation and divorce are even more realities than they were when Creech wrote the book in 1994. It's feasible that two crazy grandparents might take their granddaughter on a road trip in search of her mother. And it's also a reality that children sometimes must cope with grief. The mere circumstances of adolescence and peer relationships and self discovery are also real issues. All of these situations, though it seems unfair, are all relevant to children. Children may not personally have experienced all that Sal has, but they probably at least know someone who has dealt with similar dilemmas. Again, because of the reality of the book, readers are given accurate windows to the world and mirrors for themselves. Sal has tremendous losses to sort through, yet because of how she's grown, she approaches her life with a new maturity and acceptance.

This novel overwhelmingly meets the criteria for outstanding children's literature. Readers are given the opportunity to expand their awareness, to "walk two moons in another man's moccasins" as they journey with Sal and empathize with the emotions she is dealing with as she is coming of age. Though readers are exposed to lessons of coping with grief and accepting themselves for who they are, these ideas are not overemphasized. Creech's poetic and honest words keep the reader interested and provide an enjoyable story to read. This novel is quite truthful as it offers realistic losses and wisdom in confronting them. Walk Two Moons is simply quality literature. Creech's story flows with descriptive imagery, reasonable circumstances, and realistic characters. All the details of the novel seem to come together to make a complete story. Though there are multiple layers of stories going on - Sal's trip with her grandparents, Sal's experiences with Phoebe, Sal's life with her mother - they eventually all unite to serve a common purpose in the way Sal has grown through them. This book certainly showed originality. It overlapped unexpected plots and merged unexpected characters to challenge readers and expose them to significant perspectives.

Walk Two Moons has much potential to be used in a classroom. The book is recommended for ages eight to twelve. It would probably be appropriate to use with fifth, sixth, or seventh graders. Students could practice their geography skills as they keep track of the route that Sal, Gram, and Gramps traveled on from Kentucky to Idaho. Students could also work in small groups as each person specializes in research of a certain landmark that Sal stopped at such as the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, or Old Faithful. Groups could create a set of travel brochures or postcards from the journey. Students could respond to a proverb of their choice from among the ones that Phoebe discovers on her front porch. They could use art, poetry, drama, storytelling, music, etc. to illustrate the saying. Students could also create their own proverb that Phoebe might find on her porch. Students could write about a journey they've been on or create their own journey as they describe their trip and what they learned from it. Students could engage in literature circles as they read the novel. They could each have a specific role in their group (such as Discussion Director, Passage Detective, Vocabulary Enricher, Researcher, Connector, etc). And, Students could research the past and present traditions of the Seneca, the American Indian tribe that Sal's great-great-grandmother was a part of.

The story is not without humor, as Sharon Creech interjects comical moments to balance out the sorrow in the story. The novel concludes with optimism as Sal demonstrates how much she has grown and how she will continue to embark on her journey of self-discovery. Sal's story has the potential to touch the lives and hearts of all who decide to join her.

Quote from a reader

Target readers: Kids aged up 8

Better with Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Puffin Modern Classics) (Paperback) Number the Stars (Laurel Leaf Books) (Mass Market Paperback) :

					3 Buy with : ¥ 264.00
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