About This Book
Lynne Rae Perkins's Newbery Medal-winning novel, Criss Cross, offers a poignant and contemplative look at adolescence in a small midwestern town during the spring and summer of the early 1970s. The story follows a group of middle-school friends, including Debbie, Hector, Lenny, Patty, and Phil, as they experience new thoughts and feelings, question their identities, and search for meaning in life and love. Their individual stories and desires often 'criss-cross,' sometimes connecting, sometimes just missing. A mysterious necklace adds a touch of magical realism, subtly guiding characters toward self-discovery. This book is ideal for thoughtful readers aged 10-14, providing a gentle yet deep exploration of growing up.
Teenagers in a small town in the 1960s experience new thoughts and feelings, question their identities, connect, and disconnect as they search for the meaning of life and love.
Discussion Prompts
1
What does it mean to 'find your true self' as the characters try to do? What steps do they take?
2
The book talks about paths 'criss-crossing' and sometimes missing each other. Can you think of a time in your life when your path almost crossed with someone else's, or when you just missed an opportunity?
3
How do the different characters, like Debbie, Hector, and Lenny, express their individuality and their feelings about growing up?
4
The story is set in the 1970s. How is life in Seldom similar to or different from your own experiences today?
5
What role does the necklace play in the story? Do you think it has real magic, or is it more about what the characters believe?
External Reviews
Google Books
5/5 (1 ratings)
Awards
1 award
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