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Is this book expected to become another medal for Sharon Creech? The Great Unexpected is making headlines and getting mixed reviews. What did you think of it?

This book should have been a home run for me. I love Creech and I love Celtic mythology. But for some reason, after I finished the book, my first question was "What the heck just happened?" I've had a few students read it and ask me the same thing. They all said they didn't understand it. One day soon, I'm going to have to give it a reread. It wouldn't surprise me at all if it won an honor. I just don't think it's grand prize worthy.

I just finished reading this and loved it! The writing was terrific, the characters instantly lovable and funny, the story intriguing, and the mystery really kept me turning the pages.

You know it reminds me, in some ways, of THE WESTING GAME, one of my all-time favorite books. Not that the plot is reminiscent, but the quirky characters and the writing certainly did. I like this book much better than others that have been discussed. Maybe it's just my kinda book. :-)

I must say I really enjoyed this book. One of my library colleagues did not. I am running a Mock Newbery with a class of fourth graders, and received one student's intuitive response to the book : "I loved it. The plot moved along and when you thought you had solved the problem, another problem came up. It was like a book with one problem within a problem." Hmmm. Fourth grader.

I enjoyed the book but I think it is a bit difficult for younger kids to grasp the bouncing back and forth with lost loves over the generations and trust issues. The banter between the girls was terrific. There are many adults I know that would enjoy this story and older kids will understand the many layers. It should be considered for Newbery but my money is still on The One and Only Ivan.

I have a huge fan of Sharon Creech, but this book didn't hit the mark for me. Weird is the only way I can think to describe it. I did think the relationship between the two girls was well done, but the plot twists and how everything worked out required too much suspension of disbelief. I'm not sure there is such a thing in a fiction book, but that is how I felt while reading it.

Finishing The Great Unexpected last night, and I wondered if kids could follow it because I sure didn't always get what was going on. I agree that the girls were lively and interesting characters. (Is there an orphaned girl thing going on this year? I.e The Summer of Gypsy Moth). Scenes and settings are well depicted.
So far my vote goes to Wonder. Reading it to 6th graders who Love Love Love it..especially as they are about to go to middle school next year, it resonates with them.

I was really disappointed in this book! The plot device of alternating stories that traverse time and come together in the end reminded me of Holes, but it just didn't seem as coherent. I have to say the characters irked me, especially Lizzie (who walks around saying lar de dar all the time anyway??), and I still don't know where "Finn Boy" came from and if he is real or not. The fairy gold thing just seemed to be tacked onto the end, and I wish it had been hinted at in someway throughout the book so it didn't feel that way. I am certainly not well versed in Irish Folklore, and I couldn't help but wonder if I knew the Finn McCoul story better if I would have appreciated this more and taken more away from it.

I just finished The Great Unexpected. I had read the diappointing reviews so I wasn't expecting a lot. I did like the book but do not see it as Newbery quality. There were just too many coincidences and too many Finn's. What happened to Finn that fell out of a tree. Not the one that died. Was he not real? The finding of the gold seemed a last minute throw in and didn't add to the story I felt.

The characters were strongly memorable, and the mysterious aspect was enjoyable and compelling. I did feel that the plot suffered for the sake of creating this mood, and this flaw will bump The Great Unexpected out of the running for the Newbery. I would absolutely love to see this book adapted into a family play, though.

Beautiful book jacket and great title! Lots to think about with this one! I can't say I even completely understood all of it (was Finn real?), but I still liked it a lot. It would be a great one to process with a book club. There are some eccentric characters in the little town of Blackbird Tree and across the ocean in Ireland - the women in Ireland reminded me of the old men in the movie Secondhand Lions. Naomi and Lizzie are little orphan girls trying to make sense of their circumstances and the mysterious appearance of a boy, Finn, who drops out of a tree one hot day. As the story unfolds, we discover suprising connections between the characters like "a delicate cobweb," linking them all. Love the language in this quirky story. I'd be curious to see what kids think of it.

I wondered if Finn was real also. I like the analogy to Secondhand Lions.