Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Sharon Creech and Bloomability

Did you ever read a book that when you finished you thought "How did they know...?" Rarely do I find a book that I can completely resonate with, but Sharon Creech's "Bloomability" is one of these.

Sharon Creech taught in Europe for a while before coming back to the States and starting her writing career. Her only book about a girl in Europe is Bloomability, and it was a similar experience to my year of living in Europe and attending an international (MK) school.

Domenica (the heroine of this tale) is taken to live with her uncle and aunt, who are in charge of an international school in Switzerland. Her experiences that year changed her life forever.

This book also came at a time when I desperately needed it - I left Spain depressed and ready to drown myself in sorrow over leaving such a beautiful, happy place. Luckily, I found Bloomability, which I then bought and re-read several times. It's still one of my favorite books, even now residing on my bookshelf. It helped me process through leaving a place and continuing on to be "bloomable" wherever I was.

Sharon Creech has a very interesting way of writing, different from any other writer I've experienced. It's like...reading someone's thought process, almost. It's a very intimate, personal way of writing and to read one of her books is to live in her story for a while. I would highly suggest any of her books, including the following:

Absolutely Normal Chaos
Bloomability
The Wanderer
Ruby Holler
Chasing Redbird
Walk Two Moons

Enjoy! If you've read a Sharon Creech book, let me know what you thought!

3 comments:

  1. Kaitlin, this is pretty much the best blog ever =)

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  2. have you read the Uglies series by Scott Westerfield? I liked them a lot and I think you would too.
    I also recently read the Charlie Bone books...my mom suggested them to me. It's kind of a Harry Potter-like story - kids with magical abilities at a boarding school...definitely not anywhere near as good as HP, obviously =D, but entertaining

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  3. Glad you like it, Lissa. :) I have heard of the Charlie Bone books (I think I read part of one) but not the Uglies. I'll write that on my "To-Read" list! (I think it's a mile long...lol) That's awesome that your mom liked The Wolves of Willoughby Chase! You should definitely read the others, they all connect somehow and they are awesome! :)

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