Shelly's Book Blog

The Young Adult novel Criss Cross, by Lynne Rae Perkins, won the Newbery Medal in 2006, and I liked it a lot. The title refers to the way characters in the book come very close to connecting with each other in meaningful ways but for various reasons fail to do so. It is a quiet story, kind of meandering among several plot threads and several teen-aged characters.
Their stories are simple, even everyday, but at the same time poignant and important. Debbie wants something new and different to happen to her -- she doesn't know what. However, when that "something" does occur, it still manages to catch her by surprise. Hector learns to play the guitar and starts writing songs, and even though his music is not really very good, it gives him pleasure and helps him to discover important things about himself. Dan is kind of a jerk, selfish and conceited, and he kind of just stays that way!

If you're looking for adventure and an exciting, suspenseful narrative, look elsewhere, because on the surface it doesn't seem as though much happens in this book. However, if you enjoy creative, thought-provoking writing about self-discovery and hope, then this book will be quite satisfying.