Ms. Hempel Chronicles is a story about Ms. Hempel, who teaches seventh grade. She is new to the school and newly engaged. She is young so her teaching style differs from what an older teacher might do. She finds it acceptable to talk frankly with her students about anything and everything.
Truthfully, for me, I did not enjoy this book. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t really like it either. I found it jumped around way too much. It goes to Ms. Hempel’s childhood and then back to her teaching. What I found most and didn’t like was that a whole jumble of characters is introduced and I felt you really didn’t get a chance to know any of them except for Ms. Hempel. As a character, I would have to say I liked her. She is funny in her teaching methods and her descriptions of her childhood were interesting in that she didn’t exactly have a normal childhood. Her whole family seemed a bit off to me.
The wrting of author, Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum is not really my style of writing to enjoy but still good. For some, they may really enjoy it. As I said for me the novel was too choppy. I did finish reading it because I was interested in what happened to Ms. Hempel in the end and unfortunately the end didn’t really leave me completely understanding where she was at in her life at that point. Would I recommend this book-not likely. As I said this book could definitely appeal to others, just not to me.
Many thanks again to Mini Book Expo and Harcourt publishers for the chance to read and review this novel. This book will be released September 1, 2008.
I haven’t heard of this one. Sorry you didn’t care for it all that much.
Hi, Dar. It’s always so hard to review a book you just didn’t care for. Thanks for your honest thoughts. The review is nicely done, given your feelings about the book.
Mary, you can’t win them all and I’ve been on a lucky streak lately with good books.
Shana, I was trying to be fair to the book because truthfully what I may not like, someone else might. You never know.
Ugh! Hate when that happens and it did to me just this week. I am giving up on a book that I was about 3/4 way through. Steve is shocked I am stopping with so much time invested. But I no longer care for the characters and what happens to them.
Bummer…
I agree J.Kaye. It’s so hard to read something you’re just not caring about. If not for the one character in this book I may not have finished. On a good note, the book from you is great so far.
Yeah for that! 🙂 I’ll keep my fingers crossed it will remain so.
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