Chances are you’ve read a book by Avi, or atleast seen one on the shelf at the library. Avi is a very popular author who seems to prolifically produce a wide varies of books. One of his novels, Poppy, was a Book of the Week last year. Avi only goes by one name, Avi, because that’s what his twin sister called him when they were younger and it just stuck.
He says he was not a good writer when he was in school and in fact failed a lot of his classes when he was in high school. But when he was a senior in high school he decided he wanted to write for readers, not for teachers or for grades.
Avi wrote the historical fiction book, The Fighting Ground, in 1987. I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy a book about the Revolutionary War, but I really did. Jonathon is 13 years old and desperately wants to join the Americans in their fight against the British and Germans. However, his parents are adamant that he may not join the war.
One day the town bell rings and Jonathon asks his father if he can go hear what is going on. His father gives him permission only if Jonathon promises to return immediately, and not get involved in the war. Jonathon promises. However, once Jonathon arrives at the meeting, he gets caught up in the excitement and decides to disobey his father and go to battle.
Jonathan finds out that people he thought were good, are not always, and people he thought were bad, might not be.
This whole novel takes place in less than 48 hours. It is very fast moving because each chapter is a different time in the day, some chapters only being ½ page.
When I finished the novel I had a sickly feeling. Not because the book was bad, but because it left me with an uneasy feeling that the events particularly at the end of this novel could, and probably really did, happen during the war.
He says he was not a good writer when he was in school and in fact failed a lot of his classes when he was in high school. But when he was a senior in high school he decided he wanted to write for readers, not for teachers or for grades.
Avi wrote the historical fiction book, The Fighting Ground, in 1987. I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy a book about the Revolutionary War, but I really did. Jonathon is 13 years old and desperately wants to join the Americans in their fight against the British and Germans. However, his parents are adamant that he may not join the war.
One day the town bell rings and Jonathon asks his father if he can go hear what is going on. His father gives him permission only if Jonathon promises to return immediately, and not get involved in the war. Jonathon promises. However, once Jonathon arrives at the meeting, he gets caught up in the excitement and decides to disobey his father and go to battle.
Jonathan finds out that people he thought were good, are not always, and people he thought were bad, might not be.
This whole novel takes place in less than 48 hours. It is very fast moving because each chapter is a different time in the day, some chapters only being ½ page.
When I finished the novel I had a sickly feeling. Not because the book was bad, but because it left me with an uneasy feeling that the events particularly at the end of this novel could, and probably really did, happen during the war.
I give this book 4 bookworms.
1 comment:
Avi has written SO many wonderful books. The thing that makes him different is that he writes so many different kinds of stories: historical fiction, fantasy, realistic fiction, mysteries....you get the idea. Come to the library and see!
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