Criss Cross: A Newbery Award Winner – An Authentic Novel of Friendship and Growing Up for Children (Ages 8-12)

Criss-Cross by Lynn Rae Perkins moved and inspired me. The book is about magic. The kind of magic in life that is subtle, that influences our path in life in ways we may not even be aware of, and connects us all. The loss of Debbie's necklace isn't a huge drama or tense mystery, it is there to make us feel magic, as the necklace makes a journey and is passed from person to person, until finally ending up in the hands of the person who may or may not, in a single moment, change Debbie's life. Criss-Cross. The idea of it stunned me, the realization of it's truth left me breathless. One single, seemingly inconseqential moment, can change the life course of another person, or our own life course, entirely. We are constantly "criss-crossing" each other's paths in our daily life, often oblivious to the magic we are making.The book is also about yearning. Perkins captures beautifully the more subtle yearnings in life: Hector noticing that he and his sister look so much alike and yet...she is more fully realized than he is, more completely her, and inside he yearns to become his full and complete self. Debbie yearns for "something" to happen, but more than that, for something wonderful, some kind of magic to infuse the fogginess of her day-to-day existence. She is oblivious to the loss of the necklace, oblivious to the long, meaningful journey it takes in the effort to fulfill her wish. She also yearns for her mother to see her, to really see the deep-down wishes of her heart for just one moment, to take the time to dig deep and care...As each of these kid's internal lives are profiled, I began to understand and appreciate the wonder of their existence, the importance of their lives, and the impact they are each having on their world and each other.It was clear to me, by the end of the book, that Lynn Rae Perkins has a tender love and empathy for young people. She recognizes that their lives are precious and meaningful, and this book seemed in part a quest to validate their importance, to say to them: "Keep doing what you're doing. You're okay. You're doing great things."I read this book myself, at first, then read it aloud to my husband. He is a truck-driver and, if he isn't listening to audio books, I read aloud many, many books to him as he drives. I often tell people he is a professional reader, and driving a truck is simply a way to support his real passion. When I read Criss-Cross to him, he wouldn't let me put it down, not even to take a drink of water. At the end, in the pivotal scene between Hector and Debbie, where the title of the book really comes to striking life, my husband said he got chills.I feel it is unfair to say, "Kids would not like this book." Kids have individual tastes, just like adults. Some kids will savor this book, will get chills up and down their spine when they read it, and some kids will find it boring and pointless. Just like adults.So what I would like to say to the kids is this: If this book interests you, go check it out. To have the richest life, reading and otherwise, you always have to make up your own mind.

I am so glad Criss Cross won the Newberry Award because the book is artful, honest,and a step away from the norm, and it works beautifully as a novel. The book takes risks with form and technique, risks that challenge and play with the readers, leaving the readers with a different sense of image that one may normally experience after putting a book away. I believe this book will encourage teens to take risks with their own writing, and also with their own lives. Pick up a guitar. Sing a song. Do something different. It's a positive book. I just finished teaching an Adolescent Literature course, and we read several award-winning books, but when you read them one after another, often times, the books tend to feel loaded with misery, which is why it's wonderful to have an uplifting book earning this award.Teachers will love using this book in the classroom. What a fantastic book for showing their students what life was like when they were younger, yet, be a bookthat feels like it's taking place today for the students who are reading it. I love the fact that both parents and teens will enjoy reading the same book. It's a delightful book that takes the readers on a funny self-discovery journey. If it was an action-packed thriller it wouldn't be this gem of a book.

The book is in perfect condition!

I am 61-years-young and purchased and read this book as I had seen the author on the Today show just after she won the award. I was intrigued and wanted to check it out for my granddaughter. Also, I seem to be drawn to coming-of-age books written to any audience age. (I guess I missed mine and went straight to grownup, but not adult for quite awhile.) This is a great book for all. Insight for elders and "relating to" for kids. No wonder it won such a prestigious award.P.S. Bought a copy for my granddaughter too.

The book is very confusing but a very good one I liked this book it wouldn't been better if it was shorter and made moresnce

I greatly enjoyed reading this book. The writing is fabulous and engaging. Anyone can identify with the subject matter. I recommended it to my Mother, and to my teenaged nieces.

The book blends the trials and aspirations of two teenage friends, as they search for the gifts that they might be able to offer to the world. It is funny; its is positive; and it is not a cliche of the typical boy finds girl books.

needed this to go along with the workbook

My book was damaged in the corners and didn't look in good condition

２００６年度のニューベリー賞（アメリカの権威ある児童文学賞）を受賞した作品です。ニューベリー賞については「受賞作が子供には難解なものが多すぎるのでは」という議論があるようですが、この作品は間違い無くその槍玉にあげられている受賞作の一つでしょう（笑）。子供の目線で一夏の日常生活を描いた小説で、１０代前半の少年、少女が登場し、みんなで集まってラジオを聞いてみたり、ギターの演奏に心打たれて「悟り」を開いてみたりするのですが、これといって一貫したプロットはありません。ヒーロー、ヒロインとしてふさわしい、わかりやすい登場人物も出てきません。正直「子供がこんなの喜ぶの？」と言いたくなるような作品です。なので、最初のうちは読む側としても調子が出なかったのですが、途中から「これはいわゆる『あの夏』の物語ではないか」と気付き、すっかり引き込まれてしまいました。思えば１０代前半は精神的な発見がとても多かったと思います。他人は自分と同じではないということ、男の子と女の子は違うということ、恋愛って思っていたほどドラマチックではないこと、などなど。そして、そんな発見すらも、映画のようなドラマを持たずに淡々と消化されていていってしまう。切ないものです。この小説が再現しているのはまさにそのあたりです。小説に求めるものが「ハラハラドキドキ」「びっくり展開」であるならばこの小説はつまらないでしょう。でも、プロットでは無い何かを求めて読書するタイプの方には非常におすすめします。１０代の方にも、大人の方にも。英語は、語彙だけなら英検２級＋αくらいのものですが、ユーモアの効いた文章なので、英文慣れしてないと理解しにくいかもしれません。ちなみにこの小説は一つの独立した作品でありつつ、「All Alone in the Universe」という小説の続編でもあります。「All Alone〜」のほうがやや読みやすいので、あっちを先に読んでみるのも良いかもしれません。著者は非常に多才な方のようで、登場人物が作った歌を作曲して楽譜を本文に挿入したり、状況説明を兼ねた挿絵を自ら描いていたり、本文のほとんどが俳句で構成された章があったりします。そのような実験的な作品に興味がある方にもおもしろい一冊だと思います。