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What Hearts Audiobook
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(3.07) - 265 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Recipient of a 1993 Newbery Honor, this novel is an achingly beautiful, powerfully rendered journey through childhood that is not to be missed, now available in a new edition with a striking new cover.
“From an outstandingly perceptive writer, a moving portrait of a boy, observed at four revealing turning points.” -- Pointer Review/Kirkus Reviews
“Combines fast, exciting action with an astonishing ending that proves the power of the individual imagination.” -- Starred Review/ALA Booklist
""Asa—possessed of rare sweetness, humor, and inner strength—survives intact cruel tests of his integrity, intellect, and sense of decency. From an outstandingly perceptive writer, a moving portrait of a boy, observed at four revealing turning points."" —K. ""Told with controlled imagery, insightful illumination of motive and the needs of his characters, Brooks has proven himself once again a master of language."" —BL.1993 Newbery Honor Book
Notable Children's Books of 1993 (ALA)
1993 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
1993 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
1993 Teachers' Choices (IRA)
1993 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
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"I read this to my son for our Homeschool curriculum and I really enjoyed it (so did my son). I actually cried a little near the end. I'm sure it was my own past dealings with divorce that surfaced and the relationships that happen in the wake of that, but I thought it was a pretty great book."
— Stephanie (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Brooks blends fine sportswriting with a keen insight into the human heart.”
— Children’s Literature -
“Effectively revealing the psychological burdens of an intelligent, sensitive child, this book remains honest and intense from beginning to end.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Combines fast, exciting action with an astonishing ending that proves the power of the individual imagination.”
— Booklist -
“A boy’s coming-of-age story set within a troubled stepfamily is a worthy endeavor, and Brooks is extremely skilled in describing psychological subtleties of thoughts, feelings, and relationships.”
— School Library Journal -
“From an outstandingly perceptive writer, a moving portrait of a boy, observed at four revealing turning points.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
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A Newbery Honor Book
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An ALA Notable Book for Children
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An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
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A 1993 New York Public Library Book for Teens
What Hearts Listener Reviews
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" Hmmmm. Not my favorite book. I finished it, but not because I loved it. I kept looking to see if maybe I had accidently picked up an abridged version by mistake or something; it just seemed so choppy. And we get more than half way through before we're told that Asa's mom is manic/depressive???? I mean, isn't that sort of an important detail? It becomes awfully important in the second half, so why aren't we even given an inkling of an idea in the first half? And his dad just disappears? And even though Asa describes this great relationship with him at first he never really gives him so much as another thought throughout the rest of the book? Even while he deals with his step-father? UGH!!!! This could have been a good book... except.... well.... IT ISN'T!!!! We never stay focused on anything long enough. You know what I will say? It's a great title. It really is. You have to get all the way to the end of the book to understand the title, but it's a good one. No, a great one. But that's the best thing I can say about this book. I will not be recommending it to anyone - middle school, young adult or adult. "
— Peggy, 1/25/2014 -
" not bad, i liked it. but i felt as if it had no main focus to it, no climax or problem. it actually crossed me as rather depressing...reminded me of rejection and hard times. definelty not a favorite! "
— Shelby, 1/16/2014 -
" Sometimes I wonder what qualifies a book for a Newberry Award. This one was rather depressing and I just didn't like it. I guess it was too close to how life really is to make me very happy. I can look around me and see lives that aren't going great and stories that don't get resolved. "
— Kyrie, 1/8/2014 -
" a newberry award winning young adult novel, and i see why. it relates 4 episodes in a sensitive boys life and tells them well. "
— Jrobertus, 12/14/2013 -
" sort of a small strange little book that I liked in a strange little way. "
— Livvie, 12/1/2013 -
" Warning: this book rips your heart out and stomps on it. "
— Kate, 9/10/2013 -
" wow. a really powerful book. "
— Katie, 1/26/2013 -
" wow im not going to lie this one made me cry, i was like 10 when i read it though. "
— Matt, 11/11/2012 -
" Divorce Difficult moral at end. Like it. "
— Jeff, 9/1/2012 -
" It is a bit of a stretch to go with two stars, but there were a couple of passages that redeemed this story. Overall, I found the writing quite disjointed, the story emotionally forced, and all the principal characters too dysfunctional. I was expecting much more from a Newbery Honor recipient. "
— Melinda, 7/5/2011 -
" I really liked this - a short, sweet read! "
— Karla, 5/21/2011 -
" This book was really sad, but i was very addicted. He was a great book I would so recamend it to anyone. It had a wierd and sad ending, but it was worth reading. "
— M., 3/14/2011 -
" Ok, also one of my all-time favorites. This is young adult fiction, or maybe children's. I'm not quite sure. That being said, it is good writing and a terrific story. I could read this over and over. "
— Bob, 10/15/2010 -
" I really liked this - a short, sweet read! "
— Karla, 8/2/2010 -
" This book was really sad, but i was very addicted. He was a great book I would so recamend it to anyone. It had a wierd and sad ending, but it was worth reading. "
— M., 2/26/2009 -
" Ok, also one of my all-time favorites. This is young adult fiction, or maybe children's. I'm not quite sure. That being said, it is good writing and a terrific story. I could read this over and over. "
— Bob, 11/8/2008 -
" sort of a small strange little book that I liked in a strange little way. "
— Livvie, 8/31/2008 -
" Divorce Difficult moral at end. Like it. "
— Jeff, 7/29/2008 -
" wow im not going to lie this one made me cry, i was like 10 when i read it though. "
— Matt, 9/5/2007 -
" Warning: this book rips your heart out and stomps on it. "
— Kate, 7/23/2007 -
" a newberry award winning young adult novel, and i see why. it relates 4 episodes in a sensitive boys life and tells them well. <br/> "
— Jrobertus, 7/19/2007
About Bruce Brooks
Bruce Brooks was born in Virginia and began writing fiction at age ten. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1972 and from the University Of Iowa Writer’s Workshop in 1980. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine writer, newsletter editor, movie critic, teacher, and lecturer. He has twice received the Newbery Honor, first in 1985 for Moves Make the Man, and again in 1992 for What Hearts. He is also the author of Everywhere, Midnight Hour Encores, Asylum for Nightface, Vanishing, and Throwing Smoke. He lives in Brooklyn.
About John McDonough
John McDonough, one of AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voices, has narrated dozens of audiobooks, and won eleven Earphones Awards. He is known for his narrations of children’s books, including Robert McCloskey’s Centerburg Tales and Albert Marrin’s Commander-in-Chief Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Outside of his audiobook work, he has starred in a revival of Captain Kangaroo on the Fox Network.