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Book Review:Jip by Katherine Paterson

Title, Author & Publisher: Jip by Katherine Paterson

Length: 181 pages without illustrations -- definitely not for novice readers, but an excellent read-as-a-class novel, with ample reading aloud.

Print size: fairly small.

Other readability issues: This is historical fiction, so a video with a similar setting, or at least pictures from the era and discussion of differences in schools, homes and attitudes would keep students from having to infer so much of those aspects of the story. Like Ms. Paterson's Bridge to Terebithia, an important character dies rather suddenly, although unlike Bridge there is a fair amount of foreshadowing (rather than the sudden, random death which is traumatic to many readers of Bridge).

The plot is linear but different characters have strikingly different perspectives. This would be a good book for discussing or writing about those different perspectives. The teacher should have read the book ahead of time to help prepare for the plot twists and character developments, and to make sure important events are fully understood.

A good book for middle or high-schoolers, this has "people" issues, social issues -- but a fair amount of mystery, intrigue, and action, especially in the last half of the book. Actually, a good book for anybody -- a really fun read!

Summary: Jip has lived on the town poor farm since he fell off the back of a wagon. He is gifted with animals -- and with the lunatic man brought in a cage to the farm. Then a stranger shows up in town, and there is danger in the air, and the keys to unlocking Jip's past. There are several interestsing twists in the plot.

Typical words: Typical multisyllable/irregular words - you may want to see how many of these words your students can identify before expecting them to read independently (I recommend that the book be read with the students). The decoding is fairly difficult but because of the historical setting comprehension is more difficult. For example, "There is a chamber pot in the corner" will need to be explained to some students, and some characteres speak Quaker dialect of the times.