- Paperback: 176 pages
- Publisher: Andersen (29 April 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1849390835
- ISBN-13: 978-1849390835
- Product Dimensions: 13.5 x 1.3 x 19.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 126,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
Shortlisted --Independent Booksellers' Award, 2010
"Sharon's ability to have fun with language is evident throughout her books." -- Carousel
"Unbelievably sweet little novel." -- Wall Street Journal
"(An) endearing contemporary fable...moving, funny and sweet - and begging to be read aloud." --Kirkus, Starred Review
"A magical story that's truly original, touching and funny." --Lovereading4kids
"Some books are absolute magic, and this is one of them." --School Library Journal
"The moment I finished The Unfinished Angel, I began to read it again. I suspect you will, as well." --Write Away
"An endlessly witty and life-affirming read." --Bookseller's choice, The Bookseller
"Comical and moving novel...full of accidental wisdom about the inhumanity of humans."
--The Sunday Times, Nicolette Jones
One of Lovereading4kids' 'Best Children's Books of 2010' --Lovereading4kids.co.uk
'Deceptively simple, full of wit, humour and insight.' -- Booktrust, Best Book Guide
"Sharon's ability to have fun with language is evident throughout her books." -- Carousel
"Unbelievably sweet little novel." -- Wall Street Journal
"(An) endearing contemporary fable...moving, funny and sweet - and begging to be read aloud." --Kirkus, Starred Review
"A magical story that's truly original, touching and funny." --Lovereading4kids
"Some books are absolute magic, and this is one of them." --School Library Journal
"The moment I finished The Unfinished Angel, I began to read it again. I suspect you will, as well." --Write Away
"An endlessly witty and life-affirming read." --Bookseller's choice, The Bookseller
"Comical and moving novel...full of accidental wisdom about the inhumanity of humans."
--The Sunday Times, Nicolette Jones
One of Lovereading4kids' 'Best Children's Books of 2010' --Lovereading4kids.co.uk
'Deceptively simple, full of wit, humour and insight.' -- Booktrust, Best Book Guide
Book Description
Paperback edition of this endearingly funny and life-affirming tale of an explosive collision between an insecure angel and a feisty young girl, from this multi-award winning author.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Unfinished Angel is a very quick read. It is just 164 pages long. Yet every single page and every single word were simply a joy to read. Creech has written the most beautiful and endearing story about one Angel who is trying his/her best to protect the people in his/her care. For the purposes of the review I'm going to refer to Angel as a "he" but that is most certainly debatable. It is really hard to not give a character a gender when you're writing about them.
Angel wonders if he has been sent to be a ground angel too early. He worries that he hasn't been given a mission and if he is fulfilling his responsibility to the right people. Angel's voice is incredibly convincing. I actually giggled out loud as I read Angel's musings about peoples. Yes, we are always referred to as peoples. Angel believes he is missing some of the required vocabularly. He believes ground angels should understand every language of the world. Angel's difficulty with English was the most adorable thing to read and I'm sure he would disapprove of me saying such a thing. He is an Angel. I'm just a peoples and I most certainly should not think of him as a cute pet. But I can't help myself, I'm one of the peoples after all.
Zola is a young girl who moves into the Casa where Angel floats and flishes. He finds her bossy but he also admires her and their growing friendship was fascinating to follow from Angel's perspective. As the story develops, Angel shares with us some of the history of the characters that he watches over. There is Signora Divino who puts snakes in the yard of the Casa when she thinks no one is looking and her Grandson Vinny who is constantly making noise and mischief. Each new character adds another colour to the story.
The plot moves very swiftly and in some ways I think the way it unfolds isn't very surprising. There are no twists and turns and for once this is no bad thing. The nature of this story is about discovery and often what we discover about ourselves isn't all that surprising. Sometimes it is what we knew all along.
Overall, The Unfinished Angel is a simple yet beautifully written and well executed story. It is the type of book that you can read again and again just to hear the funny and at times grumpy voice of Angel. I absolutely love it. This a book of the highest quality of writing and I cannot recommend it enough. For an angel fan like me, it is a must read!
Angel wonders if he has been sent to be a ground angel too early. He worries that he hasn't been given a mission and if he is fulfilling his responsibility to the right people. Angel's voice is incredibly convincing. I actually giggled out loud as I read Angel's musings about peoples. Yes, we are always referred to as peoples. Angel believes he is missing some of the required vocabularly. He believes ground angels should understand every language of the world. Angel's difficulty with English was the most adorable thing to read and I'm sure he would disapprove of me saying such a thing. He is an Angel. I'm just a peoples and I most certainly should not think of him as a cute pet. But I can't help myself, I'm one of the peoples after all.
Zola is a young girl who moves into the Casa where Angel floats and flishes. He finds her bossy but he also admires her and their growing friendship was fascinating to follow from Angel's perspective. As the story develops, Angel shares with us some of the history of the characters that he watches over. There is Signora Divino who puts snakes in the yard of the Casa when she thinks no one is looking and her Grandson Vinny who is constantly making noise and mischief. Each new character adds another colour to the story.
The plot moves very swiftly and in some ways I think the way it unfolds isn't very surprising. There are no twists and turns and for once this is no bad thing. The nature of this story is about discovery and often what we discover about ourselves isn't all that surprising. Sometimes it is what we knew all along.
Overall, The Unfinished Angel is a simple yet beautifully written and well executed story. It is the type of book that you can read again and again just to hear the funny and at times grumpy voice of Angel. I absolutely love it. This a book of the highest quality of writing and I cannot recommend it enough. For an angel fan like me, it is a must read!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What happens when an angel is left floating around in a small town in the Swiss Alps without any supervision, training, or even knowledge of what an angel is supposed to be, do, or look like?
For one angel, years (probably even centuries) have passed in peaceful existence. But when Zola, an American girl, moves into the tower room that the angel has occupied, life begins to get complicated.
Zola is unique. She wears layers of clothing in bright disturbing colors. She yells at Vinny, the grandson of Signora Divino, who lives next door. She wanders around without any clear supervision. But most bothersome of all, she can see the angel, and she thinks she can order the angel around!
Angel doesn't always want to do what Zola wants though, and sometimes angel doesn't know what Zola really wants, so accidents can happen.
Creech spins a hilarious and delightful story about the antics of Zola, the pesky Divinos, awkward Mr. Pomodoro, and more residents of the Swiss village as she tackles the issue of an untrained angel who wants to help but doesn't always know how.
Readers of all ages can enjoy this tale and will fall in love with both the lovely, lonely little angel that lives in the tower room and the strange, caring little girl who turns everything upside down.
Reviewed by: Theresa L. Stowell
For one angel, years (probably even centuries) have passed in peaceful existence. But when Zola, an American girl, moves into the tower room that the angel has occupied, life begins to get complicated.
Zola is unique. She wears layers of clothing in bright disturbing colors. She yells at Vinny, the grandson of Signora Divino, who lives next door. She wanders around without any clear supervision. But most bothersome of all, she can see the angel, and she thinks she can order the angel around!
Angel doesn't always want to do what Zola wants though, and sometimes angel doesn't know what Zola really wants, so accidents can happen.
Creech spins a hilarious and delightful story about the antics of Zola, the pesky Divinos, awkward Mr. Pomodoro, and more residents of the Swiss village as she tackles the issue of an untrained angel who wants to help but doesn't always know how.
Readers of all ages can enjoy this tale and will fall in love with both the lovely, lonely little angel that lives in the tower room and the strange, caring little girl who turns everything upside down.
Reviewed by: Theresa L. Stowell
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was in search of some Spanish picture books to help my fledgling Spanish vocabulary and I came home with this. It was a delight to read and the idea is brilliant: our angel, who believes that he/ she has been sent to earth somewhat unfinished and he/ she isn't clear on his/ her mission or purpose, and his/ her collision with the spirited, somewhat bossy Zola who also appears to be a bit odd with her persistence in wearing several layers of clothing at once.
The angel's "puzzlement" about the "behaviours of peoples" is reinforced throughout the book as he/ she comments on what he/ she sees or has seen in his/ her life. The comments and musings are incredibly funny and from an adult perspective, made me wonder how odd adult behaviour must be to children and how odd we all must be from the perspective of a dog or alien (or indeed, someone from a completely different culture!).
The language is beautiful and because words are slightly "corrupted" when the angel speaks, staying focused is a must. The story of the friendship that develops between the angel and Zola is again funny but also raises important questions about whether "peoples" really do look after all "childrens", even those who have slipped across an invisible country border and are "illegal".
I can't recommend this book enough. It made me laugh and cry and I fully intend to read all Sharon Creech's books.
The angel's "puzzlement" about the "behaviours of peoples" is reinforced throughout the book as he/ she comments on what he/ she sees or has seen in his/ her life. The comments and musings are incredibly funny and from an adult perspective, made me wonder how odd adult behaviour must be to children and how odd we all must be from the perspective of a dog or alien (or indeed, someone from a completely different culture!).
The language is beautiful and because words are slightly "corrupted" when the angel speaks, staying focused is a must. The story of the friendship that develops between the angel and Zola is again funny but also raises important questions about whether "peoples" really do look after all "childrens", even those who have slipped across an invisible country border and are "illegal".
I can't recommend this book enough. It made me laugh and cry and I fully intend to read all Sharon Creech's books.
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