The View From Saturday

 

The View From Saturday 

By E.L. Konigsburg 

Overview: The View From Saturday is a awesome book! I loved it because all the characters were connected somehow. There are so many interesting and funny characters! The five main characters are Noah, Nadia, Ethan, Julian, and Mrs. Olinski. Mrs. Olinski is Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian's teacher. At the beginning of the book there is a separate story from each of the four kids' point of view. 

Noah knows Nadia because he was the "best man" at Nadia's Grandpa's wedding. Nadia's grandpa, Izzy married Margret. Nadia's mom works for Noah's dad. Margret Diamondstein's grandson is Ethan. Ethan knows Nadia because their grandparents got married. Nadia and Ethan go on turtle walks with each other; that's a big part of the story I'll let you find out! 

Then Julian, a new boy at school, becomes Noah, Nadia, and Ethan's friend. Julian hosts a Tea Party at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Sillington House. Mrs. Olinski comes to the Tea Party one time and is so impressed with their great manners. 

From the beginning of the book, the students are preparing for the Academic Bowl. The Academic Bowl is where the seventh graders and the sixth graders compete. The Souls are Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian, who are in sixth grade. A judge asks each team a question. If one team can't answer, another team is given a chance to answer the question. The sixth graders win against the seventh graders. The sixth graders are now called to compete against the eighth graders. There is a complicated joke in the middle that took me a long time to figure out, but I eventually got the point. It is great book, and I'll let  you find out what else happens!

Themes: Friendship, Team Work, Love, Kindness, Manners.

Positive Elements: I loved how the characters are all connected somehow. It tells me that the author was very creative while he wrote this book.

Negative Elements: The principal of the eighth graders says he'll hang their coach if they loose; he's really kidding, though. (This is a part of the joke that took me a long time to figure out.)

In conclusion, I thought this was a great book! It had such great connections! I think it would be good for nine and up because there are some hard things to understand. Hope you enjoy this book! 

By: Summer Staples, 9