Book Cover
Justification
I chose The adventures of a girl called Bicycle for my Bluebonnet Award category on this blog. I was drawn to this book for a few reasons. First, I wanted to highlight some texts that would be appropriate for upper elementary school age students. Many of the books featured in this portion of the blog have been picture books, which as you can tell from my glowing reviews of many of them, are wonderful literary choices. However, I wanted to choose a chapter book that was just as delightful. I also was drawn to this book by the promise of the quirky tale that the jacket described. This book did not disappoint.
Evaluation
The first thing to note about The adventures of a girl called Bicycle is the characters. Each of the characters comes to life with Uss’s writing. We empathize with Bicycle who has only ever lived with adults and is unsure of herself around other children her age. The members of the Mostly Silent Monastery are so endearing. The way they love and care for Bicycle from the day that she appears on their doorstep as a three-year-old toddler. Along Bicycle’s adventures across the country, each character we meet impacts us in a real way. We feel the warmth and generosity shown by the Cookie Lady, Chef Marie, Jeremiah, Estrella, and Dr. Alvarado. Even ghosts and inanimate objects are characterized in this quirky tale. Griffin, Clunk, and Fortune-713-J are among Bicycle’s first friends, even if she doesn’t realize it. Along the way you feel yourself rooting for Bicycle to realize her dreams. To make it to San Francisco to meet her idol and would be friend Zbig, the famous Polish cyclist. Uss brings out the humanity in all of us through her character development throughout the story.
Another exceptional component to this book is the plot development. When we meet Bicycle as a three-year-old left alone at the Mostly Silent Monastery, we feel sad yet hopeful for her future among the good-hearted strangers who look after her. As Bicycle grows older, she must decide for herself if she is going to follow the path that Sister Wanda has set for her, or if she is going to make her own path. The story winds us through Bicycle’s decision to travel across the country to meet her idol and make her first friend, and we feel like we are on the journey with her and are rooting her on. As Bicycle heads out on her own, we are drawn in by this question: Will she make it to San Francisco? Each place that Bicycle stops along the way on her journey to San Francisco brings new characters, challenges, and successes. Uss’s description of each place and its inhabitants draws us further in to the story. We care deeply about Bicycle and her quest to make a friend.
Finally, the theme at the heart of The adventures of a girl called Bicycle endears the reader to the book. What is friendship? What does it mean to be a friend? How do you make a friend? Bicycle struggles with these questions throughout the book. We learn from Bicycle’s journey that friendship is a process. That it involves living life together, listening to one another, and helping whenever we can. Friendship is not an automated response, but a journey, just like the one that our protagonist takes us on through the book. This theme is one that we can all relate to, young and old. It also shows us the value of a good friend and how we must stand by them.
Response
(A) While I was reading The adventures of a girl called Bicycle I thought of my own struggles with genuine friendships are this age. Early adolescence is a tricky time. You want to feel like you belong. To have people to see you for who you are and like you just the same. While I didn’t grow up in a Mostly Silent Monastery, I did move across the country just around this age. We left rural upstate New York for suburban life in Scottsdale, Arizona. Like Bicycle, I felt very different from my peers around me, who all seemed to already have a place they fit in. I also had to go on a journey of self-discovery and figure out who I was. Knowing who I was gave me the confidence to put myself out there and make genuine friendships.
(D) The adventures of a girl called Bicycle addresses the value of a good friend. Throughout the story Bicycle is lucky enough to encounter many good friends along the way. Friendship can help shift your emotional state. You can go from feeling sad and dejected to hopeful and uplifted after a conversation with a good friend. At several points in the story, Bicycle meets a good friend at just the right time. Each time she feels lonely, or that the riding is too hard, or that she’s low on food, Bicycle meets a friend to help her along. Having friends around you to help you walk through the struggles of life is of paramount importance. I believe we are called to live life in community, and to spur one another on. The adventures of a girl called Bicycle exemplifies just that. The value of a good friend to help you through.
(F) While The adventures of a girl called Bicycle is written with the target age range of someone much younger than me, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I found each character more endearing than the last. The overall theme of the value of friendship and the plot kept me wondering, would she make it? I loved the quirky nature of the book. The humor in the word selections of Eight Sacred Words at the Mostly Silent Monastery. The idea that a bike or ghost could be your friend and travel companion. This book was very entertaining. It’s easy to see why it was selected for the Bluebonnet Awards this year!
Conclusion
Bicycle’s story is one that reminded me of the value of friendship and the power of a never give up spirit. I was sad to say goodbye to such endearing and rich characters. This book is a great choice for upper elementary school students or middle grade readers. I would highly recommend The adventures of a girl called Bicycle and will anxiously await more books from Christina Uss.
APA Citation
Uss, C. (2018). The adventures of a girl called Bicycle. New York: Holiday House.
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