Brooklyn Bridge

De: Karen Hesse

Narrado por: Fred Berman

On that day in 1903, 14-year-old Joseph Michtom's life changed irrevocably when his parents - Russian immigrants - created the first teddy bear. No longer did the Michtom's gather family and friends around the kitchen table to talk. No longer was Joseph at leisure to play stickball with the guys. No longer were Joseph and his book-loving sister free from watching their pesky two-year-old brother. Now - when it was summer vacation and more than anything Joseph wanted to experience the thrill, the grandeur, the electricity of Coney Island - Joseph worked. And complained. And fell in and out of love. And argued. And hoped that everything would go back to how it used to be.

All the while no one let him forget that he was lucky. Because - "There are other children. The unwanted, the forgotten, the lost ones. They gather under the bridge each night to sit, to talk, to sleep. They know, they know, they know that to everyone beyond the bridge they are invisible...." These are the children who live under the bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge.

Newbery medalist Karen Hesse masterfully entwines Joseph's coming-of-age tale (and that of his big, colorful family) with the heartbreaking stories of the children under the bridge. Riveting historical fiction that is by turns accessible and ornate, very real but with a touch of magical realism. Hesse's extraordinary new work is an insightful reminder that a life - fragile and precious - can change in a moment.

Brooklyn Bridge is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

©2008 Karen Hesse (P)2008 Macmillan Audio

Amazing

I Loved this book it was so detailed and the best historical fiction book ever

Sanford middle students review - Ms Cruz Class

The book was extraordinary and I personally like the voices done and how you told the feelings of the characters and what they were like !!!!👍🏼😆

The accents were spot on. I really felt the emotion. I also like the fun facts put here and there.👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👏🏼

I liked the voice where it said joe in that voice it was funny

Family Values

This is a beautifully written and narrated story about family values told from a child’s perspective. There is a variety of characters that make the story enjoyable and to easy to relate to by young readers - adult age. This is a story that family members will pass down.

Teddy Bears and poor children living under...

...Brooklyn Bridge. Karen Hesse is a highly regarded author of books for children and teens. This one is intended for near teens and very early teens. Brooklyn Bridger was released in 2008 and is set in 1903. The protagonist is 14 year old Joseph Michtom whose parents had recently invented the Teddy Bear which was a commercial success from day one. The story is told in the first person of Joseph.

Ultimately Brooklyn Bridge is about Joseph's maturation process as he is surrounded by loving parents, younger siblings, and a large extended immigrant family. It is a nice story but it is not as good as many wonderful books for the target age range. I describe Brooklyn Bridge is good but not special. Narration is excellent.