Sunday, July 23, 2017

Alfred and Guinevere

Alfred and Guinevere is by James Schuyler. A strange, but fun, little novella about two siblings who have been sent to their grandparents' home for the summer. The story is told alternately by both children in various ways, including entries from Guinevere's diary and letters. This was presented as a children's book, but that doesn't seem correct. While the voices of the children are absolutely accurate for their ages, there are adult themes that run through the novel that are never fully explained. Their parents are having issues, but it is never clear why or if they are finally resolved. It sometimes takes concentration to follow who is speaking, but the banter between the kids is priceless and worth the effort. Anyone with a sibling will find at least one conversation they remember having.

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10.

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