Where is the book on the narrative
continuum?
Highly Narrative (reads like fiction)
Highly Narrative (reads like fiction)
What is the subject of the book?
A teen girl and her 3 siblings live in poverty with brilliant but irresponsible parents who believe that inventions, art, and alcohol are more important than food, electricity and running water.
A teen girl and her 3 siblings live in poverty with brilliant but irresponsible parents who believe that inventions, art, and alcohol are more important than food, electricity and running water.
What type of book is it?
Autobiography/Memoir
Autobiography/Memoir
ARTICULATE APPEAL
What is the pacing of the book?
Quick-paced. Short segments keep the book moving almost as much as the family physically moves from one location to the next.
Quick-paced. Short segments keep the book moving almost as much as the family physically moves from one location to the next.
Describe the characters of the book
The main character (author), Jeannette, is believable, introspective and witty. Her three siblings, Lori, Brian and Maureen, could be described similarly. They are much more responsible than their parents, Rex (an inventor) and Rose Mary (an artist), who are flawed, unreliable and quirky.
The main character (author), Jeannette, is believable, introspective and witty. Her three siblings, Lori, Brian and Maureen, could be described similarly. They are much more responsible than their parents, Rex (an inventor) and Rose Mary (an artist), who are flawed, unreliable and quirky.
How does the story feel?
Darkly humorous, reflective, thought-provoking, hopeful.
Darkly humorous, reflective, thought-provoking, hopeful.
What is the intent of the author?
To share the experience of her most unusual childhood.
To share the experience of her most unusual childhood.
What is the focus of the story?
How the author and her siblings survive a nomadic, (unnecessarily) poverty-stricken lifestyle with dysfunctional parents.
How the author and her siblings survive a nomadic, (unnecessarily) poverty-stricken lifestyle with dysfunctional parents.
Does the language matter?
The story does not rely too much on the language. The language is not lyrical, but straightforward, matter-of-fact, and easily understood.
The story does not rely too much on the language. The language is not lyrical, but straightforward, matter-of-fact, and easily understood.
Is the setting important and well
described?
Yes.
Yes.
Are there details, and if so, what?
The story is full of details of the poverty-like conditions, such as caved in roofs, moldy walls, sleeping in beds made from cardboard, porches so rotted out that the family had to climb through the window to enter the house.
The story is full of details of the poverty-like conditions, such as caved in roofs, moldy walls, sleeping in beds made from cardboard, porches so rotted out that the family had to climb through the window to enter the house.
Are there sufficient charts and other graphic
materials? Are they useful?
There are no charts or graphic materials included (at least not in the eBook version); however, if the author had a sketch of her father’s proposed “Glass Castle,” it would make a nice addition to the book.
There are no charts or graphic materials included (at least not in the eBook version); however, if the author had a sketch of her father’s proposed “Glass Castle,” it would make a nice addition to the book.
Does the book stress moments of learning,
understanding, or experience?
Learning from the father who was somewhat of a genius, understanding how to survive and rise above poverty, experiencing what it is like to be a child living in poverty.
Learning from the father who was somewhat of a genius, understanding how to survive and rise above poverty, experiencing what it is like to be a child living in poverty.
Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank
appeal)?
Narrative Content, Characterization, Learning/Experiencing
Narrative Content, Characterization, Learning/Experiencing