Winner of the 2006 Newbery Medal
• New York Times Bestseller • An ALA Notable Book • An ALA Best Book for Young Adults • School Library Journal Best Book • Booklist Editors’ Choice • Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice • Horn Book Fanfare Book • New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
In this acclaimed, award-winning, and timeless national bestseller, Newbery Medalist Lynne Rae Perkins explores the crisscrossing lives of four teenagers on the verge of adulthood. The unique format incorporates short vignettes, haiku, Q&As, and illustrations by the author. Written with love and humor, Criss Cross is an unforgettable story of friendship, family, and growing up.---from the publisher
368 pages 978-0060092740 Ages 12-15
Keywords: coming of age, friends, friendship, teens, 12 year old, 13 year old, 14 year old, 15 year old, character driven, Newbery Medal
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This book won the 2006 Newbery Medal, and I am for once in complete accord with the Newbery Committee. Perkins' prose is spare and clean. Some of the passages simply glow, especially when they are highlighting the ways in which we try to communicate and fail. Characters who love each other are at cross purposes with the best intentions in the world. The characters are sympathetic and believable, there are no emotional pyrotechnics, no huge tragedies these kids have to recover from, they are ordinary, singular, delightful young adults who learn some things worth knowing. Illustrated, which I confess put me off at first, but done so well I began to look forward to each intriguing illustration. I recommend this book without reservations.---from Melody on Goodreads
Well now I better understand the fuss about disappointing Newbery Medal winners. This book was boring, not memorable, and the characters did not interest me one bit. I don't know if perhaps it was the "listening" rather than actual "reading" that made it unejoyable, but this story just didn't grab me in any way.
As I struggled through the 2 1/2 discs that I listened to, I was trying to figure out why it won the Newbery. Hmmmm....---from Bethany Lafferty on Goodreads
