Saving Winslow

by Sharon Creech

Overview

Newbery Medalist Creech ("Walk Too Moons") delivers an uplifting novel about a boy who befriends an ailing newborn donkey and nurses him back to health. It's a touching tale about the transformative power of love, friendship, and letting go.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062570703
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/11/2018
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	346,561
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sharon Creech has written twenty-one books for young people and is published in over twenty languages. Her books have received awards in both the U.S. and abroad, including the Newbery Medal for Walk Two Moons, the Newbery Honor for The Wanderer, and Great Britain’s Carnegie Medal for Ruby Holler.

Before beginning her writing career, Sharon Creech taught English for fifteen years in England and Switzerland. She and her husband now live in Maine, “lured there by our grandchildren,” Creech says.

www.sharoncreech.com

Hometown:

Pennington, New Jersey

Date of Birth:

July 29, 1945

Place of Birth:

Cleveland, Ohio

Education:

B.A., Hiram College, 1967; M.A., George Mason University, 1978

Editorial Reviews

The bond that develops between boy and donkey is genuinely heartwarming. And in seeing Louie's relentless efforts to keep Winslow alive…young readers may absorb a subtle lesson in passion and persistence. The plot itself is rather uneventful…But the story is buoyed by the whisper-weight chapters and Creech's spare, poetic language. Creech isn't writing in verse…but her words evoke imagery that will linger in a reader's mind long after the final page.

The New York Times Book Review - Catherine Hong

★ 07/09/2018
Creech (Moo) spins a heartfelt yarn about a boy’s struggles trying to raise a baby donkey. Ten-year-old Louie has repeatedly struck out with animals: worms dried up, a parakeet passed on, a found kitten ran away. But when his father brings home a sickly newborn mini donkey from Uncle Pete’s farm, Louie is determined to save the “pitiful-looking” creature he names Winslow. The infant requires bottle-feeding, injections, and almost constant nurturing, but Louie refuses to listen to others’ pessimism, including that of his new friend Nora. As always, Creech packs a tremendous amount of emotion between the lines of her understated prose. Readers will feel Louie’s longing for his older brother, who is serving in the military and signs his letters, “Remember me”; Nora’s lack of hope, which stems from losing her premature baby brother; and the children’s shared affection for each other and the tiny donkey. Animal lovers in particular will relish Louie’s hard-won triumphs and find joy in Winslow’s strength. Ages 8–12. Agent: Amy Berkower, Writers House. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

A winning tale of love.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Creech packs a tremendous amount of emotion between the lines of her understated prose… Animal lovers in particular will relish Louie’s hard-won triumphs and find joy in Winslow’s strength.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This heartwarming story is sure to be a hit with fans of E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web and Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“Woven into this narrative is a convincing portrayal of human growth and blossoming—the story is told simply but subtly, celebrating the unexpected strength of the vulnerable.” — Horn Book (starred review)

“Particularly skillful and satisfying… An ideal choice for reading aloud or alone.” — Booklist

“A clear-eyed look at the way humans endure heartbreak and hope.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“The bond that develops between boy and donkey is genuinely heartwarming.... [Creech’s] words evoke imagery that will linger in a reader’s mind long after the final page.” — New York Times Book Review

“Plenty of heart and determination.” — Boston Globe

From the Publisher

Plenty of heart and determination.

Boston Globe

★ 07/01/2018
Gr 3–6—Ten-year-old Louie does not have a good track record for taking care of animals. Worms, goldfish, a hamster, a snake, and a lizard are only a few of the pets that died or escaped on his watch. When his father brings home a weak, orphaned newborn mini-donkey from his Uncle Pete's farm, Louie decides to do everything in his power to save him. Taking care of the donkey, which he names Winslow, helps Louie feel closer to his older brother Gus who is serving in the army. Interwoven stories of family and friendship include the girl troubles of his older friend Mack, his quirky new neighbor Nora who has experienced her own losses and is afraid to form attachments, and the hole left behind in his own family as Louie and his parents miss Gus. With short chapters, a timeless setting, and simple prose, this uplifting tale will have readers rooting for the donkey and the boy who nurses him back to health. VERDICT This heartwarming story is sure to be a hit with fans of E.B. White's Charlotte's Web and Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie.—Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH

School Library Journal

★ 2018-06-11
Louie, a remarkably optimistic 10-year-old, takes on the rearing of a fragile, newborn mini donkey whose mother is too sick to care for it.Louie and his parents feel "the enormous absence of his brother," Gus, who is serving in the military and who poignantly (and worryingly) now signs his letters, "Remember me." Winslow, the little donkey, needs constant attention to survive, and Louie, in spite of everyone's predictions of a dire outcome, gamely perseveres. The one with the most negative outlook is Nora, a new neighbor, who, it's revealed, has lost both a premature baby brother and her dog. She's attracted to Winslow but unwilling to allow herself to get attached, while Louie throws his whole heart into saving the needy animal. Her need for distance and unrelenting pessimism are both revealing and enlightening. Utilizing the spare, poetic language she's the master of, Creech gently narrates this winning tale of love and the risks it brings. In brief chapters and with few words she crafts dynamic characters (who are default white) and an engaging narrative with a subtle yet illuminating message on the dampening effects of negativity. The nuanced conclusion brings hope without—realistically—full resolution.Another outstanding and unforgettable story that will work well both as a read-aloud for younger listeners and as a rich offering for those recently transitioned to chapter books. (Fiction. 7-12)

Kirkus Reviews

The bond that develops between boy and donkey is genuinely heartwarming.... [Creech’s] words evoke imagery that will linger in a reader’s mind long after the final page.

New York Times Book Review

Woven into this narrative is a convincing portrayal of human growth and blossoming—the story is told simply but subtly, celebrating the unexpected strength of the vulnerable.

Horn Book (starred review)

A clear-eyed look at the way humans endure heartbreak and hope.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Particularly skillful and satisfying… An ideal choice for reading aloud or alone.

Booklist

Particularly skillful and satisfying… An ideal choice for reading aloud or alone.

Booklist

A clear-eyed look at the way humans endure heartbreak and hope.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books