140
people found this helpful, as of 2023
ranked #216,500 most helpful
out of 571,544,897 reviews
★★☆☆☆
Makes me doubt the Newbery Medal selection
I have always trusted the Newbery Medal until now. This book drags. I mean it really drags. My 12 y/o attempted to read it and just put it down after about 1/4 of the book and said it was boring. She reads just about anything so I was surprised. I attempted to read it chapter by chapter at night to my 7 y/o. He complained constantly and kept asking "which one are we asking about now?". I agreed that it was almost impossible to follow but thought it might be the format of reading one chapter a night. So I decided to sit and read it myself. I have to agree wholeheartedly with both my children. It dragged on too long and was boring. You don't even get to the "prank that causes their lives to collide" until the second half of the book. It failed to convey any kind of redeeming message and was not entertaining either. Definitely not worth putting on your child's reading list.
