What I’m Reading: The Red Pencil

I just finished up listening to the audio book The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney.  As you probably know, most of the stories I take in come to me via audio books and that’s my preference….this book, I wish I had read in hard copy.

There are pictures that go with the book and I missed the pictures.  There is a PDF file that can be downloaded to see them but I would have just rather read the book.

At first when I read the story seemed to not flow very well.  Then I realized the story was being told in prose format.  Then I actually started enjoying the story.  It was easy to start and stop listening.  As each piece was only a short story within the story.  This is juvenile fiction again.  It’s a coming of age story which I always enjoy too.

I actually stumbled upon this book and am glad I did.  I typically have several books on my holds listing and for the most part, I just listen to a book as it becomes available.  There is usually always something there….this time I was out of books (I know-awful, right?)!!  I went to the online library and decided I would take any vaguely interesting book that was available as I was in a hurry and was leaving and I needed something to read in the car.  This is the first one that came up.

Here’s what Amazon had to say, “Life in Amira’s peaceful Sudanese village is shattered when Janjaweed attackers arrive, unleashing unspeakable horrors. After losing nearly everything, Amira needs to find the strength to make the long journey on foot to safety at a refugee camp. She begins to lose hope, until the gift of a simple red pencil opens her mind — and all kinds of possibilities.”

Amazon readers give it 4.7 stars.  I would agree.  It’s really good and I enjoyed the prose format of the book.  It tells the story of a refugee family in a good way that is meaningful without being overly graphic.