Day 7 of Summer 2019 #Bookaday Challenge: Far Away

Slide 1: Hi My name is Kate Narita and this is day 7 of my summer 2019 #bookaday challenge. Today I will be talking about the novel Far Away.

Slide 2: Far Away is written by Lisa Graff, and Lisa Graff is one of my favorite authors. As soon as I started reading this book I realized that what the main character thought was true and what really was true were two very different things. 

Slide 3: Immediately this made me think of Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech. In this novel, it also becomes apparent to the reader that what the main character thinks is true and what is true are two different things. Fortunately, the outcome of Far Away is different than the outcome of Walk Two Moons.

Slide 4: So that made me think of Gertie’s Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley. There are a lot of parallels between the main characters in these two books, Gertie’s Leap to Greatness and Far Away by Lisa Graff. I think the outcome in Far Away is a little brighter than the outcome in Gertie’s Leap to greatness but both characters overcome tremendous challenges in their lives and find a way to be happy.

Slide 5: Thinking of female characters who miss their moms, long for their moms, of course made me think of India Opal in Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn Dixie.

Slide 6: As always, I think of The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson. This is an outstanding novel. So I highly suggest that if you have one of these four novels, that you suggest one of these to read next. 

Slide 7: Finally, I always like to include a picture book in my text sets so that readers of all levels may participate. Finn’s Feather is a gorgeous book written by Rachel Noble. It’s about a death in a family and it, too, blurs the lines between truth and what the character wants to be true. I firmly believe that CJ, the main character in Far Away, would have benefitted from holding this book in her hands.