Brooklyn Bridge Audiobook

" Joseph Michtom's family lives in Brooklyn in 1903. Joseph's father has a newly expanding business - stuffed bears inspired by then President Teddy Roosevelt. Memorable characters and setting. Good, but not Hesse's best. I enjoy reading stories set in old NYC, so I liked it. "

" Beautifully written, but a bit slow. I'm not sure who I could give it to. "

" Superb! Hesse is a master storyteller and this book is no exception. (And, as it was a listen-read for me, the narrator was superb too.) I loved every minute of it! "

" Set in the Jewish section of Brooklyn during Teddy Roosevelt's presidency Karen Hesse describes a family that blends with the neighborhood selling candy and stuffed animals in their shop. One fateful day Father sees Teddy's picture with a bear and has Mama make a stuffed bear. They know they have a winner when the baby will not let go of the Teddy Bear. The family's sudden success alarms the neighbors. Complex family relationships, neighborhood conflicts and a mysterious community of orphans under the bridge swirl through this well written tale. "

" Brooklyn Bridge got off to a slow start and I wanted to abandon the novel altogether when Hesse introduced her first sketches of the lives of children living under the Brooklyn Bridge- complete with resident ghost, but I am glad I stuck with the book. An old-fashioned, surprisingly rich picture of the lives of Jewish immigrants in New York City at the start of the twentieth century comes to life in this historical novel built around the real creators of the Teddy Bear. "

" I have seen this on some Best of 2008 lists, so I thought I would check it out. Not so impressed. The characters seemed shallow and the story underdeveloped. Not the worst book I have read by far, but not what I would consider the best either. "

" Hesse shares another masterful historical fiction, with a little bit of mystery and a little bit of a ghost story stirred into the mix. Summer 1903 in Brooklyn & Coney Island. Not every immigrant was shoestring poor: some were more poor than that, and some had troubles money couldn't fix. "

" Beautiful weaving of stories together. Hopeful and heartbreaking. Review on my blog soon. "

" Dark and intense -- very Hesse. So evocative of turn of the century Brooklyn; I felt like I was there! "

" I think this book is a little too graphic for under 12's. THere is a little girl that cuts herself. There is child abuse. This book is narrated 2 stories at time that converge at the end. One about the Brooklyn area history and the other about homeless kids living under the bridge. "

" Five star read. Narrated by 12 year old Joseph, son of Russian immigrants living in Brooklyn in 1903. Hesse fictionalizes a story of Joseph's parents, the real creators of the very first Teddy bear. "

" this book is good so far and there are some creepy parts but i luv it :) "

" I don't think this will have wide appeal to students unless they have a particular interest in this time period. It's alternating narrative styles may confuse weaker readers. "

" Not Hesse's best. "

" Karen Hesse is one of my favorite YA writers, and this book is one of her best. It seems to capture (what do I know??) Brooklyn in 1903 from a young boy's perspective. The parallel story, told effectively in ghostly snippets throughout the book, tells of children living under the bridge. "

" Great Brooklyn accent by reader. Bought a hard copy because it is so well written. ALSC notable recording book 2009. "

" Karen Hesse knows her historical fiction! This is a very well-written book full of tragedy, sorrow, wonder, and realness, with all of the pieces coming together in the end, but the story is pretty boring until about halfway through. Also, this book is probably best suited for a Teen audience. "

" An engaging read (middle school) of upwardly mobile Russian immigrant family life juxtaposed against the homeless kids calling the Brooklyn Bridge overpass home. "

" Informative, enjoyable, surprising. "

" in 1903 Joseph would like to go to Coney Island, but his family has recently created the "Teddy" bear and all hands are needed to produce the much in demand item. A great story of immigrants and their struggle to survive. "

" Fun to read. I love stories with twists and turns and lovely surprises. This had all of them. "

" Russian immigrants in NYC, 1903, vivid setting, a sense of community, likable characters. "

" Beautifully written book about history and family. Loved how everything came together in the end. "

" I think this book is a little too graphic for under 12's. THere is a little girl that cuts herself. There is child abuse. This book is narrated 2 stories at time that converge at the end. One about the Brooklyn area history and the other about homeless kids living under the bridge. "

" Hesse is a good solid writer. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, will add to our collection. Good supplement to our Holocaust for background info.Has several layers. "

" Great Brooklyn accent by reader. Bought a hard copy because it is so well written. ALSC notable recording book 2009. "

" An engaging read (middle school) of upwardly mobile Russian immigrant family life juxtaposed against the homeless kids calling the Brooklyn Bridge overpass home. "

" Strange story. The teddy bear angle makes it different. Good family feelings but then the children under the bridge... "

" The story of a boy whose parents are Russian immigrants living in Brooklyn. Very compelling, and gives a good description of and contrast between the well-off and the poor orphans who live under Brooklyn Bridge. "

" I'm at a point in my life where I really love it when a teenager takes a look at him/herself and finds out they need an attitude adjustment--even when it isn't about to happen at my house. "

" Hesse shares another masterful historical fiction, with a little bit of mystery and a little bit of a ghost story stirred into the mix. Summer 1903 in Brooklyn & Coney Island. Not every immigrant was shoestring poor: some were more poor than that, and some had troubles money couldn't fix. "

" Juvenile book. When teddy bears were made. Good. "

" I loved this story. It has a strong sense of time, place and characters. I appreciate the themes of "luck," generosity and letting go, as well as the goodness and compassion found in Joseph's family. "

" 1903 Brooklyn. The intertwined stories of the Michtoms, a Jewish Russian immigrant family told through the eyes of the 14 year old son, and a group of homeless children living under the Brooklyn Bridge. "

" My one complaint is that the main character's true inner conflict was revealed too late in the book and then felt rushed through. Mostly this was a nicely written nice story about some nice people. Would make a good read-aloud. "