Book Review--Verse Novel

WHERE I LIVE

Spinelli, Eileen. WHERE I LIVE. Matt Phelan,Ill. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2007.

WHERE I LIVE isn't a story about a house and other material things. It's about living. Ms. Spinelli has taken an ordinary second grader with a major event in her life (moving, good-byes, sadness) and developed a intriguing story. The free verse style works well with this novel.

You are introduced to all the main characters within the first six poems. Diana describes her house, mentions her best friend, describes the sky and lets you know that it is autumn all in the first poem. The story quickly moves along with the wren's nest on the front door, Grandpa Joe's home and broken arm, the birth of her sister and her dad losing his job which causes their move.

Youthful dramatic dialog adds humor to the story. "Rose rolls her eyes. "Nebula is not a word."
..."Okay. If my friend Rose looked up at the sky more often..she would know a nebula when she saw one." Rose throws her pillow at me. "You and your sky!" Good use of dialog. Ms Spinelli provides good visuals throughout the book, "Twink puts in ...three gum balls...and her stuffed rabbit, George."

Matt Phelan's simple gray illustrations connect you to the warmth in the story. The poems could stand alone but the story would be less enjoyable or even dis-engaging without the pictures. The drawings for the poem, "Dad's Latest," presents "believable characters," although the poem could stand alone.

Dad collect jokes
like some people
collect stamps.
Here's his latest:
"what kind of dog
loves to take a bath?"
Twink guesses
"A dirty dog?"
Mom grins.
I shake my head.
"No, Twink," says Dad.
" A shampoodle!"

Spindelli includes some diversity with Rose, an African American and Sam Ling which suggest Chinese, plus he's male. I do agree with the reviewer from Booklist that the Rose's character should have been eased out the story and not just dropped. Diana's grandpa had bought her a computer to e-mail her friend and it ends there. Diana returns to her old home town for the poetry workshop but doesn't visit or call Rose. This doesn't take away from the story but I believe children could disconnect by wondering what happened to "Rose?"

One interesting note about verse novels. Yes, the pages have additional space plus they are actually thicker than regular novels pages. Reluctant readers can work through the thickness quickly. I believe the trend to publish verse novels will continue to grow which is a good thing.

Reviews

Booklist--In a market crowded with novels-in-verse, this one feels a bit facile, and some readers may wish Rose didn't drop out of the picture so completely once a new friend appears on the scene. Teachers, however, will welcome the poems' imagery and symbolism (like the fledglings nesting in, then departing from, Diana's old front door), and Diana's journey from one comfort zone to another will reassure children anticipating their own mad-sad goodbyes.

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