From Amazon.com...
"Joseph can hardly believe what he has been asked to do. His Aunt Kate, a wildlife biologist, is waiting for him at a research station and needs his help taking care of an orphaned polar bear cub only a few months old. He will leave his friends and family and venture to the farthest northern town in the United States. As the adventure unfolds, Joseph and his newfound Eskimo friend Ada find mysteries wherever they look. The bear cub, Delta, remains in danger. Who would want a polar bear dead? Joseph will have to look to the North Georgia woods to save Delta. When his parents were kids, they too embarked on an excursion into the unknown. Their encounters with the wilderness beyond their backyard have shaped the future for Joseph and Delta. A Place for Delta is about one family's journey—a passage born in the Appalachian Mountains and leading to the Arctic."
Why I read this: I loved the premise of this book and the theme of environmentalism.
Plot: At first the plot is rather choppy, going between different POV and time periods. The beginning chapter is very captivating, but then immediately becomes a flash back. I found the differing plots between young Kate and Joseph to be distracting.
Characters: I think the characters were presented well, I just wish that they would have been explored more thoroughly. I felt like there was so much more to find out about Kate and Joseph.
Cover: While beautifully illustrated, the cover of "A Place for Delta" would make it very hard for me to "sell" this book to my 9th graders.
Final Thoughts: Every once in a while you come across a book sounds extremely promising and new, and is... but not for the right reading group. As school starts my head is completely consumed with what my 9th grade readers would read; because "A Place for Delta" is more of a middle grade read I had a hard time getting into this novel. I really liked the theme of this novel and if I were teaching middle school or upper elementary, I would definitely use this novel to demonstrate the importance of taking care of the earth. But because of the cover and the shorter, blunt chapters, I will not have this book in my 9th grade reading classroom. I think this is a good read for younger readers with a great opportunity for learning about the environment and discussions. I hope to soon come across a similarly themed 9th grade read.
Originality: 8/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 5/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 7/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 3/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 3/10
Overall: 75/100 C
To the FTC, with love: Review Book