Replay

Maybe it's because I've always been drawn to acting. Maybe it's because I've always been a (day)dreamer myself. Maybe it's because I have always struggled to connect with my family. Maybe it's simply the amazing power of Creech's writing. Whatever the reasons, Leo has become a character I will never forget. Sharon Creech's "Replay" tells the story of the day-dreaming Leo, though he is better known to family and friends as "Sardine" or "Fog-Boy" -- both nicknames that Leo hopes to leave behind at some point in his life -- in a coming-of-age story that will ring true to any middle child in the chaos of a large family that is always on the go. How do you deal with being cast as the "Old Crone" in the school play? How do you grow up in a family that never seems to know you're there? How do you connect to a father you don't understand? Especially when you find the autobiography he wrote at age 13 and learn about all those passions he once had that now seem to have faded. As a middle school teacher, I have shared this book with my class. In watching my students as we read it together, I have watched my students laugh at Leo's daydreams, commiserate with his failures, and share in his joys. Most importantly of all, however, is that as Leo learns to look at his father with new eyes, so too have I seen my students begin to look at their parents in ways they never have before. In the end, not all of Leo's dreams have come true, but he succeeds in taking one step further in the process of growing up, and does so in an authentic way that will resound to anyone who struggles, or who struggled, with that greatest of tasks in life: Becoming who you are.

Sharon Creech is a favorite author for delivering surprises in format and style. It is fascinating to follow the way she develops the character of pre-teen dreamer, Leonardo. In the crush of a large household, Leo feels unnoticed much of the time, one of 4 kids who usually sound like a thundering herd. His discovery of an auto-biography written by his father at age 13 opens Leo's eyes to the question of a "missing" aunt, and to his father's dreams. He realizes there are watershed events in most lives that dictate change, and his father's was a heart attack.The author does not cater to lazy-minded readers. She exposes the family's past to daylight & reminds us that everyone agonizes over growing up. Chapter books can leave one with a stand-out favorite; mine was "Chores" to which I related & laughed about the most. Every mother would be grateful for a similar solution to doling out family responsibilities! Braided into Sharon Creech's story is the mystery of Rosario, the 'lost' aunt; the chaos & stresses of everyday life; and the 3rd strand: a school play written & directed by an insightful teacher. Leo, in the undesired role of 'the old crone' discovers that happiness can be found in less-than-spectacular achievements. Reviewer mcHAIKU will continue to enjoy this tale of every child's fantasies of success and delivers this opinion: DON"T MISS READING "REPLAY" !

I love Sharon Creech and have shared her works with my students for years! This new book is excellent and will definitely be a "mentor" text for my students. The descriptions of characters and a young boys reading of a journal to learn about his father is terrific!

When you live in a big family of 4 kids and 2 adults, you might think you would get a lot of attention and love and live like "one big happy family", as the saying goes. Well, not in Leo's case. Join Leo through a story of love, comedy and pure happiness in Replay by Sharon Creech. Leo's Italian family consists of his grouchy older sister, Contento, his two younger brothers, Pierto and Nunzio, and his mom and dad, who never really pay attention to them. With so many people, the house id never still and there is always something to do. However, no one really notices Leo, either, and his dream to become a famous actor on Broadway. Suddenly the world is spinning. Leo finds out about an unknown, missing family member named Rosaria, who no one really talks about, he gets the part of a crone in the school play and then there's his friend, Ruby's mysterious, dead brother. When I first read that Leo had a big family, and was never really noticed, I thought of one of my friends who lives in a family of seven. She is never really in Leo's case of "un-noticed-ness". I thought this was interesting and decided to compare the two families. In the end, I realized it was the parent's fault for not paying enough attention to their kids. While my friend's parents were active in school projects and talked and played with them, Leo's mom often called them " a big band of useless goats". Leo's dad never really talked or played with them since his heart attack two years ago. Toward the middle of the book, I noticed the conversations are turned into play-script text. I thought Sharon Creech was very creative to have done this. It gives the book an interesting touch. Also, at the end, she gives you the script for the play the main character performs, in case you want to read it or act it out. My favorite part about this book is the comedy. The way Sharon Creech uses her language; just makes you want to laugh and laugh. I love a good book that's funny. Especially if I can relate to most of the characters in at least one way. This book, Replay, by Sharon Creech is truly a treasure. It will make you laugh over and over again, no matter how many times you read it.

A cast headed by Christopher Burns gives full voice to a large Italian family. Italian or not, 12-year-old Leo's family is very much like all others - sometimes happy, at other times in disagreement. But, somehow in the words of Newbery Medalist Sharon Creech Leo's household bursts with more laughter than most. Like many young folks, Leo has a few nicknames - "Sardine" because he is sometimes sandwiched between his older sister and his two younger brothers. He's also referred to as "Fog Boy" because he's a dreamer. He's just been given a part in the school play and, as his Dad says, "Leo, you make gold from pebbles" because Leo fantasizes about starring on Broadway. At other times, he dreams he's going to be a genius. This is, a story about growing up. Not surprisingly, there are sometimes conflicts between father and son. However, when Leo discovers a diary his father kept when he was Leo's age, understanding soon follows. Highly recommended for listeners in grades 5 through 7. - Gail Cooke