Those Kids From Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly – Book Review
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Title: Those Kids From Fawn Creek Author: Erin Entrada Kelly Publisher: Greenwillow Books Release Date: March 8, 2022  |
Fawn Creek, Louisiana is the quintessential sleepy, southern, small town. Nothing ever seems to happen, and everything always seems to stay the same. That is until Orchid Mason, a new 7th grader moves to the area. Orchid’s tales of living in cities across the globe enthrall Fawn Creek’s young people, giving them hope that they can break free from their community’s small, confining expectations. Unfortunately, not all Fawn Creek 7th graders accept Orchid with open arms. Mean girl Janie is on a mission. She wants to discover the truth about Orchid’s past, and with it, a plan to put Orchid in her place.
Those Kids From Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly is an instant classic with memorable characters (all of whom present as White), relatable conflicts, and universal themes. Vivid descriptions of characters, settings, and events provide an intimate window into this small community. That community is deeply connected but abides by limiting expectations for its young people, complexities Kelly effectively portrays. Still, just as the young people from Fawn Creek hope for something better, the novel’s ending leaves readers wishing for the same. It will instill in them a hope for a better day, week, year, or future ahead.
Those Kids From Fawn Creek offers numerous avenues for educators to explore with their students. Its themes, conflicts, characters and even lessons on figurative language all potentially provide teachers with source material for teaching essential literary skills with strong links to the text for discussion and connection. It is relatable enough that students will want to think and talk about the story but so well-written that teachers can highlight the elements of craft evident in it. Whether using the book for summer school classes or for a beginning-of-the-year unit that incorporates lessons on self-acceptance and kindness, Those Kids From Fawn Creek will be a hit no matter its use.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and publisher, Greenwillow Books, for an eARC of this book.
Classroom Applications
- Cross-Curricular Study – Teach the novel in conjunction with a study of self-acceptance and the power of kindness.
- Book Club or Book Exchange – Share the novel with students that enjoy reading realistic fiction.
Nonfiction Connections
The list below outlines topics that will enrich your students’ understanding of the novel.
- Self-Acceptance
- Bullying
- Power of Kindness
Book Companions
The following are great books to pair with Those Kids From Fawn Creek. In parenthesis are the specific aspects students could explore when synthesizing across the texts.
- Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly (Character Connections, Themes)
- Starfish by Lisa Fripps (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
- Front Desk by Kelly Yang (Character Connections, Themes)
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