Zeely

I first heard about this book when I was about 12 and it was described on one of those PBS shows that encourages kids to read. The mystery of Zeely and who she really was so intrigued me that I remembered it after all these years and finally read the book. It's very much a young adult book, but I en......more

Considering how much hype and critical adoration this book has received, I was expecting something completely different. I found the protagonist, Elizabeth (who inexplicably changes her name to Geeder), to be whiny and, frankly, strange. She becomes obsessed with Zeely, a 6'5" black woman on a farm......more

I have lost count of the number of times I've read this small book over the years, but today the covers fell off my copy. I loved it today as much as I did the first time I read it. Anything I say about the story line will be inadequate because it is the crafting of scenes and character that make th......more

This is the first of many books that I'm reading for my multicultural children's literature course this semester. I was really enchanted by the country setting of this novel as well as by the way that Hamilton crafted Elizabeth/Geeder's experience in regards to her obsession with Zeely and the lesso......more