“Criss Cross” by Lynne Rae Perkins
“Criss Cross” by Lynne Rae Perkins is a fascinating Newberry Award Medal book that captures the relationships and experiences of a group of teenage friends.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the excellent character depictions. Perkins reaches deep into her characters and shows us their feelings and dreams. For an example of this, I will quote one of my favorite portions of the book:
“He waved to a couple of girls he knew, across the street. Their lips were shining, their arms were folded in front of them, sheets of hair swayed gently behind like a hypnotist‘s pocket watch, in a way that related to how they moved as they walked. They were changing from caterpillars into butterflies. Hector felt himself changing, too, but into what? Not a butterfly.
All he could think of was a dog. Friendly, loyal, with shiny eyes. They‘re changing into butterflies, he though, and I‘m changing from a puppy into a young dog. Could that go anywhere?”
“Criss Cross” is characterized by such rich descriptions, both of scenes and of characters. Perkins skillfully develops the story in subtle, pastel moods that are easy to visualize. In addition, she employs some very unique writing methods. For example Chapter 22 shows the same scene from two different points of view. The chapter consists of two columns, the first one showing a scene from the one character‘s mind, the second depicting the same scene from another character’s mind. This marvelous omniscient viewpoint allows the reader to see both characters through the other’s eyes and make connections between the two different minds.
The book’s plot isn’t overly exciting or unique, but this is because “Criss Cross” has its own unique aim. It isn’t a book that needs a plot, because it’s about real life. Reading the book feels like watching a slide show where each picture comes into view, rich and vibrant, before floating away. It’s easy to see why “Criss Cross” won the Newberry Award Medal, for it offers a memorable experience to all who read it.
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