ENtry # 4

      To fully appreciate my book I did research about the author. I also looked at some commentary, reviews and criticism about the books she has written.

     

        I learned that when the author, Katherine paterson, was a young girl, she dreamt of being a movie star.

She never thought much about writing, until the war started. Her father was a soldier- who she saw very rarely. She began writing letters to him as a very young girl. As we know, Katherine Paterson never became a movie-star. She never fulfilled her dream, but she learned a lot on the way. While studying to be an actress, she wrote letters, scripts, and screen plays. Which lead into her next career, as a teacher. Later, she no longer wanted to  be a movie star, and had discovered her true talent for writing. She fully understood what "Not getting exactly what you want and learning n the way" meant.

       When reading reviews of the book I heard many different opinions. Some people said it was just another "Drippy book about friendship"; Other people loved the book, and believed leslie, and Jesse's friendship was something very special. 

The fact that after Leslie died- 'even though she left her teachings to guide Jess through the course of his life', but  just fact fact that she died, and this is a children's book, not romeo and Juliet, could be slightly depressing for a kids globally reading the book.

But over all, many  people loved the book. How Katherine Paterson can reach out and grasp all different audiences. With aspects of adventure, love and friendship "All mixed up into one masterpiece".