The In-between Days

by Eve Bunting, Alexander Pertzoff (Illustrator)

Reluctant to see any changes in his life on Dove Island, eleven-year-old George tries to get rid of his father's new girlfriend

Genres: Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile, Family, Young Adult

119 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1994

About the author

Also known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.

Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.

Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.

In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.

Reviews

[☯Emily Ginder]

Even though the author doesn't indicate the island that the protagonist lives on, it reminds me of Mackinac Island in Michigan. They. too, have a bridge to the mainland when the lake freezes over. The author uses this bridge to correlate to Georgie's decision to reach out to a woman whom he feels will become his stepmother and replace his mother. I read this on an island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New Hampshire.

[Chris]

Maybe it’s because I’m still feeling sick after getting over a nasty cold, or maybe this book was well written. Eve successfully negotiates the complex, yet simplex, feelings of a kid in this kid’s situation. I think that’s a feat for which she should be congratulated. Sometimes the touch Eve gives her books can be a little hokey, but I welcomed it this time. It just felt right.

[Karen]

This is a sweet little book that addresses the feelings of change in a child's life. It is a great book to share with your children and talk about some of the hard things that happen in life, and how we can effect our own happiness as we struggle to adapt to change. It also gives a great "mental picture" of the setting. I enjoyed it, and I think both my girls and boys will enjoy it as well.

[Darlene Foster]

Sometimes you pull a book off your shelves that has been there a long time, and you´re so glad you did. This is a great middle-grade book that is as relevant now as when it was written in 1994. The focus is on a family, a father and his two sons, missing their mom who passed away a few years earlier. When a new woman enters his dad´s life, eleven-year-old George is not at all pleased. The feelings and actions of an eleven-year-old are realistic. This is a situation that happens often to a family. I liked how the author tied in the scenery and life on a secluded east coast island in the winter. It adds to the story, making it believable.

[Happy]

Found this from the book pile. I am not much of a judge when it comes to cover but when I opened it, I began to read it right away and because it has a large font and a hundred page long only, I dug into it.

It is a "cute" story but when you think of the point of view of the children, adult relationships are simple yet we all know how complicated it could be.

I love the part at the end. I can actually imagine the fog, the ice and Caroline waiting over at St. Ann's. There should be a wedding at the end. Hahahahaha

[Janet O'Lare]

Great juvenile fiction. Eve Bunting does a wonderful job with imagery. I am reading it as part of a novel group with sixth grade students with learning disabilities and, although they are not reading on grade level, this book allows me to cover sixth grade standards. It has a story and characters the students can relate to.

[Carroll]

Fun middle school story set on macinac Island.

[Katy Lovejoy]

Seems a very familiar plot

[Ashley]

Of all the books you have to read in elementary school and high school, this was one of the few that really stuck with me. 15 years later, I still love to curl up on a cold, cloudy day with some hot tea or coffee and read The In-Between Days.

[K.S. Wicks]

I read this one every few years...story of a widower with two sons and what happens when a new woman enters their lives...wonderful story about parental loss and life's changes.

[Lkaehall]

I read this book with a group of 4th graders. They loved it. It is a book about learning there is more to life than yourself. There is a great lesson in forgiveness in this story as well.

[Laurie D'ghent]

An interesting emotional journey

[Nancy]

Wrong made right.

[Katy Lovejoy]

This is not my usual type of story

[Cws]

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