Lis Anna-Langston
Auteur de Gobbledy: A Novel
Œuvres de Lis Anna-Langston
Tolstoy & the Checkout Girl 1 exemplaire
Étiqueté
Partage des connaissances
- Courte biographie
- Lis Anna-Langston was raised along the winding current of the Mississippi River on a steady diet of dog-eared books. She attended a Creative and Performing Arts School from middle school until graduation and went on to study Literature at Webster University. Her two novels, Gobbledy and Tupelo Honey have won the Parents’ Choice Gold, Moonbeam Book Award, Independent Press Award, Benjamin Franklin Book Award and NYC Big Book Awards. Twice nominated for the Pushcart award and Finalist in the Brighthorse Book Prize, William Faulkner Fiction Contest and Thomas Wolfe Fiction Award, her work has been published in The Literary Review, Emerson Review, The Merrimack Review, Emrys Journal, The MacGuffin, Sand Hill Review and dozens of other literary journals. She draws badly, sings loudly, loves ketchup, starry skies & stories with happy aliens.
You can find her in the wilds of South Carolina plucking stories out of thin air.
Membres
Critiques
Gobbledy: A Novel par Lis Anna-Langston
Cette critique a été rédigée pour LibraryThing Member Giveaways.
Added this to my list of books to read every holiday season!
While collecting data for a school science project, Dexter and his best friend Fiona discover a glowing rock amid electric mushroom-like thingies, that have appeared overnight in the area of the forest that Fiona is studying. Dexter picks up the rock and takes it with him, thus begins an exciting adventure in making new friends, and finding hope after loss.
Dexter at first seems to be little more than the literary-typical awkward middle-grade boy, constantly in trouble, compared to a perfect sibling, and the cause of desperation for his overwhelmed parent. Within a few pages though, he becomes very real and relatable. We find that his confidence, his world has been shattered by the loss of his mom several months prior He, along with his brother and dad, is simply trying to find his footing in this new circumstance. To make it harder, it the first Christmas without her. She was the spirit of the family, organizing, decorating, and creating traditions, like the lovely Kissmas. It all seems like so much nothing without her. Lonely and devastated, Dexter makes a wish on a falling star. Boy, does he get his wish in spades.
Dexter soon finds himself caring for a lost alien, the eponymous Gobbledy from the title, described as a cross between a prairie dog, a chinchilla, and a cartoon. With the reluctant help of his logical younger brother, Dougal, and the technical expertise of his hilariously down to earth bestie Fiona, Dexter finds out that life goes on, just in a different way, as the kids work together to keep their new friend a secret, all the while trying to protect him from outsiders, and keep Dexter from getting into the kind of trouble that just seems to find him.
This story beautifully explores the themes of loss, life changes, and loyalty, while being completely entertaining. I laughed out loud. I teared up. I sat on the edge of my seat. I cheered at the victories both small and large. This is the kind of book that once read, could spark a life-long love for reading fiction or at least a new family holiday tradition.
Any middle-grade kid is going to find something personal in the story. While excellent in both prose and length for that age reader, it will make a wonderful storytime (bedtime) read for younger kids, especially with the delightful pencil sketches that dot the book. I know a few teens that will thoroughly enjoy this as well. This story has been told, but there is a little part of me that really wishes this can be expanded to a series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.… (plus d'informations)
Dexter at first seems to be little more than the literary-typical awkward middle-grade boy, constantly in trouble, compared to a perfect sibling, and the cause of desperation for his overwhelmed parent. Within a few pages though, he becomes very real and relatable. We find that his confidence, his world has been shattered by the loss of his mom several months prior He, along with his brother and dad, is simply trying to find his footing in this new circumstance. To make it harder, it the first Christmas without her. She was the spirit of the family, organizing, decorating, and creating traditions, like the lovely Kissmas. It all seems like so much nothing without her. Lonely and devastated, Dexter makes a wish on a falling star. Boy, does he get his wish in spades.
Dexter soon finds himself caring for a lost alien, the eponymous Gobbledy from the title, described as a cross between a prairie dog, a chinchilla, and a cartoon. With the reluctant help of his logical younger brother, Dougal, and the technical expertise of his hilariously down to earth bestie Fiona, Dexter finds out that life goes on, just in a different way, as the kids work together to keep their new friend a secret, all the while trying to protect him from outsiders, and keep Dexter from getting into the kind of trouble that just seems to find him.
This story beautifully explores the themes of loss, life changes, and loyalty, while being completely entertaining. I laughed out loud. I teared up. I sat on the edge of my seat. I cheered at the victories both small and large. This is the kind of book that once read, could spark a life-long love for reading fiction or at least a new family holiday tradition.
Any middle-grade kid is going to find something personal in the story. While excellent in both prose and length for that age reader, it will make a wonderful storytime (bedtime) read for younger kids, especially with the delightful pencil sketches that dot the book. I know a few teens that will thoroughly enjoy this as well. This story has been told, but there is a little part of me that really wishes this can be expanded to a series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.… (plus d'informations)
This was an absolutely wonderful story. I loved Dexter, Dougal, Fi, and Gobbledy. The story draws you in from the start, and you can almost see it unfolding in front of you (I could totally see this being turned into a kid's TV show). This book was full of adventure and friendship, while also weaving in the pain of loss, and the love of family. Even older readers will be able to appreciate this book, and it would be a perfect holiday read-along book. Highly recommend for middle grade readers and older.… (plus d'informations)
I loved this book. Maya definitely isn't your typical protagonist, and that just makes me love her more! She isn't looking for adventure, or to save the world, but that doesn't stop her from stepping up once she realizes she's needed. I loved her spunk, and how well she handled everything. The world was very well-developed, and all the characters were believable. A great adventurous read for middle grade and older readers.
Prix et récompenses
Statistiques
- Œuvres
- 4
- Membres
- 17
- Popularité
- #654,391
- Évaluation
- 4.6
- Critiques
- 5
- ISBN
- 6