Watch the Sky by Kirsten Hubbard
Genre: Children's Fiction/Middle-Grade Fiction
Goodreads Summary:
The signs are everywhere, Jory's stepfather, Caleb, says. Red leaves in the springtime. Pages torn from a library book. All the fish in the aquarium facing the same way. A cracked egg with twin yolks. Everywhere and anywhere. And because of them Jory's life is far from ordinary. He must follow a very specific set of rules: don't trust anyone outside the family, have your works at the ready just in case, and always, always watch out for the signs. The end is coming, and they must be prepared.
**Spoiler Free Review**
Publication Date, UK: 7th April 2015
I was sent a copy of this book from Disney-Hyperion, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. This book works so well as a children's story, but at the same time it has so many hidden layers to it that it remains very readable for an adult.
I have to say I'm finding it a little bit difficult to review this book not because I didn't enjoy it (for from it!), but because it's so different to anything I've ever read before. There is so much mystery and suspense throughout the book and the perspective of the child, Jory, adds to this. Jory is an average naive child who believes everything he is told by his family (as we all were) but when he starts going to school he begins to questions everything that his family has ever told him. Hubbard beautifully explores family and friend dynamics from the perspective of Jory.
As a reader, we understand that something is not quite right about Jory's family and it is fascinating to watch him discover the same thing gradually. The story is very surreal and there is so much that you want explaining as you read; it keeps you turning the page and constantly wanting to read more.
I loved the characters in this book, especially the people Jory meets and school and Kit. Kit is just such a fascinating character and it's amazing how someone so quiet manages to say so much of importance. Hubbard explores so many detailed issues with the characters, not just broken families but also mental health issues and homeschooling. Being able to explore these issues in such a relatable way whilst simultaneously writing a book for children shows her incredible talent.
Her beautifully written passages allowed me to fly through the book. There is so much depth beneath its seemingly simple surface and that is the main thing I loved about it. A child could read it and see a children's story about friendship and a loving family, whilst an adult gets so much out from the deeper and more hidden meanings within the text. It is such a short book but its stayed with me since I read it.
I have heard that many people were disappointed with the ending but, as it's a short children's book, I personally loved the ending and felt very satisfied after closing the book. It suited and fitted well with the rest of the novel. Although there was so much I still wanted to explore within the story it also worked quite well with the way it ended. I would highly recommend this book to any reader at any age!
The signs are everywhere, Jory's stepfather, Caleb, says. Red leaves in the springtime. Pages torn from a library book. All the fish in the aquarium facing the same way. A cracked egg with twin yolks. Everywhere and anywhere. And because of them Jory's life is far from ordinary. He must follow a very specific set of rules: don't trust anyone outside the family, have your works at the ready just in case, and always, always watch out for the signs. The end is coming, and they must be prepared.
**Spoiler Free Review**
Publication Date, UK: 7th April 2015
I was sent a copy of this book from Disney-Hyperion, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. This book works so well as a children's story, but at the same time it has so many hidden layers to it that it remains very readable for an adult.
I have to say I'm finding it a little bit difficult to review this book not because I didn't enjoy it (for from it!), but because it's so different to anything I've ever read before. There is so much mystery and suspense throughout the book and the perspective of the child, Jory, adds to this. Jory is an average naive child who believes everything he is told by his family (as we all were) but when he starts going to school he begins to questions everything that his family has ever told him. Hubbard beautifully explores family and friend dynamics from the perspective of Jory.
As a reader, we understand that something is not quite right about Jory's family and it is fascinating to watch him discover the same thing gradually. The story is very surreal and there is so much that you want explaining as you read; it keeps you turning the page and constantly wanting to read more.
I loved the characters in this book, especially the people Jory meets and school and Kit. Kit is just such a fascinating character and it's amazing how someone so quiet manages to say so much of importance. Hubbard explores so many detailed issues with the characters, not just broken families but also mental health issues and homeschooling. Being able to explore these issues in such a relatable way whilst simultaneously writing a book for children shows her incredible talent.
Her beautifully written passages allowed me to fly through the book. There is so much depth beneath its seemingly simple surface and that is the main thing I loved about it. A child could read it and see a children's story about friendship and a loving family, whilst an adult gets so much out from the deeper and more hidden meanings within the text. It is such a short book but its stayed with me since I read it.
I have heard that many people were disappointed with the ending but, as it's a short children's book, I personally loved the ending and felt very satisfied after closing the book. It suited and fitted well with the rest of the novel. Although there was so much I still wanted to explore within the story it also worked quite well with the way it ended. I would highly recommend this book to any reader at any age!
