Comments on The Picnic Basket: Escape Under the Forever Sky • Middle-grade fictio...

A beautifully written story about a 13year old dau...

2009-09-22T19:07:28.251-04:00

A beautifully written story about a 13year old daughter of the American Ambassador to Ethiopia who is kidnapped. I fell in love with Lucy and her strong will and unbending spirit. It makes me want to go to Africa...but not get kidnapped.

I give it a 5.

Lindsey B.
Adjunct Faculty, Utah

Escape Under the Forever Sky was a book that was d...

2009-09-16T16:21:21.102-04:00

Escape Under the Forever Sky was a book that was difficult to put down. Readers will be drawn to the main character, Lucy, and they will get to experience Africa from the comfort of their favorite reading spot. The author gives us insight to traditions and customs of Africa as well.

This book is well written and I give it a 5.

Outstanding novel. Read my review here: http://c...

2009-08-03T21:00:12.665-04:00

Outstanding novel. Read my review here: http://cpamomva.blogspot.com/2009/08/escape-under-forever-sky.html

I thought that this book was very well written. I...

2009-07-18T12:54:24.784-04:00

I thought that this book was very well written. In sixth grade we study Africa, and I know that my students will enjoy the suspense of this story. It also teaches a good lesson about following the rules when in another country. I look forward to sharing this book.
Jackie

"Escape Under the Forever Sky" is quick ...

2009-07-05T12:42:06.533-04:00

"Escape Under the Forever Sky" is quick suspenseful read in which I cheered for Lucy and came away learning some new information afterwards too! I would highly recommend this book for your middle school classroom library and I plan on passing it along to my summer reading club as well. The author combines all the elements of a terrific book by using flashbacks, character development, fight or flight and wraps the story up nicely. Thanks for a terrific summer read!

Escape Under the Forever Sky is a slow starter. I...

2009-07-04T14:50:15.964-04:00

Escape Under the Forever Sky is a slow starter. It took a few chapters for me to really get into it. But, once I did I enjoyed the book very much. If you can get a student to give it a chance, it will be a good read. I recommend it for 5th grade and up. Rating - 4 out of 5.

I wasn't sure about the story for the first ch...

2009-07-01T22:07:23.032-04:00

I wasn't sure about the story for the first chapter or so, but it kept getting better and better. Lucy's personality shone through and the descriptions in her flashbacks and of her current circumstances were well written. I particularly enjoyed the cultural information that was blended into the story. Eve Yohalem did a great job on her first novel. I give it a 5.

Escape Under the Forever Sky was a quick and intri...

2009-06-29T18:54:59.880-04:00

Escape Under the Forever Sky was a quick and intriguing read. It combined the familiar "suffering" of teenage girls everywhere with the unfamiliar background of Ethiopia. In this story, the author was able to weave elements of environmental concerns, politics, drug trafficking, and poverty at a level that could be understood by middle schoolers. The text was never preachy, but was informative. It also held just the right amount of suspense to keep it a page turner.
The universal caring of mothers (a caring that does not always require shared language) was also portrayed in an amazingly non-gushy way.
I think middle school girls would enjoy and identify with aspects of Lucy's character and the changes she is able to go through.
Rating: 5

Escape Under the Forever Sky was a great book. Th...

2009-06-27T18:33:05.974-04:00

Escape Under the Forever Sky was a great book. The information about the climate and parts of Ethopia were informative. To think that that write just took a story about a girl kidnapped from her village researched Ethopia and then created a work of fiction was amazing. The fictionalized book version was more interesting as Lucy isn't rescued by the police but continues on her journey to escape from her captors. The flashbacks help give insight into Lucy's frame of mind as she is held captive and how her experiences in the end help her on her journey. I can't wait for my daughter to read this book. I would give it a 5.

The UPS man just delivered this book yesterday, wh...

2009-06-25T21:53:14.181-04:00

The UPS man just delivered this book yesterday, which I received via the Picnic Basket, and since I was just finishing a book up, it came at the perfect time. Eve Yohalem's first novel is set in Ethiopia, featuring Lucy, the US Ambassador's thirteen year old daughter. Lucy and her mother live in a residence inside the US compound in Ethiopia. Lucy feels like her mother is too overprotective - she isn't allowed to do anything fun while they are living in this beautiful country. Lucy is especially attracted to the interesting wildlife- lions, monkeys, hyenas - that all live in Ethiopia, but her mother refuses to let her go on trips to the bush as she wishes. Finally Lucy convinces one of their domestics that he does not need to wait at her friend's house during a visit and can just return after a few hours to pick her up. Lucy and Tana, her friend, then go to the mall by themselves. It is on this trip that Lucy is kidnapped. The entire time she is held captive only spans a few days, but Lucy is especially disheartened to find out that the embassy is unwilling to negotiate with her captors. After hearing this Lucy realizes she must take things into her own hands. Despite the wildlife, weather, and other dangerous aspects of being alone in remote Ethiopia, Lucy feels as though her best chance at survival is to escape and attempt to find her way to some civilization. Her voyage is full of suspense as well as interesting tidbits about life in Ethiopia.

This is a great suspense filled realistic fiction book for tweens. I was especially interested because the story features a child of US Ambassador. One of my uncles works for the US Embassy and my cousin, much like Lucy in this story, has spent his entire childhood abroad. And, just as in this story, my uncle was also stationed in Africa at one point. He has wonderful stories about the animals and way of life I have enjoyed listening to.
I give this one a 5.

Escape Under the Forever Sky was the first book I ...

2009-06-24T23:42:40.274-04:00

Escape Under the Forever Sky was the first book I have read, in quite a long time, that I had to sit down and read.
The information about Africa was intriguing and the fact that it was based on a true story added to the appeal.
I was drawn to Lucy, the main character. She seemed rather old for her age, but perhaps living in various countries would do that.
I think 5th grade and up would be intrigued by the quick read.
I give it a 5.