The Great Unexpected

If you have been following my blog, you know that my students and I are huge fans of Sharon Creech. Well she has done it again – The Great Unexpected begins as two alternating stories that eventually come together with twists and turns along the way. Naomi, the narrator of our story, explains that she is being raised just outside of a tiny town called Blackbird Tree by an elderly couple named Joe and Nula. She describes how she first meets the peculiar boy named Finn who has dropped straight out of a tree. Lizzie, Naomi’s talkative best friend, comes upon their meeting and asks the boy many questions. The story then continues across the ocean in Ireland where an angry woman is plotting revenge. Before long, the chance encounters with Finn stir up feelings Naomi hasn’t felt before and she becomes frustrated that Lizzie always seems to be in the mix of things. When Lizzie tells her church that she and Naomi will offer their services to help the elderly of Blackbird Tree, the readers are introduced to the eccentric people of the town. The sudden death of someone Naomi loves dearly wrenches her heart and in seeking comfort, she uncovers secrets from her and others’ pasts. The phrase, “It’s a small world”, applies to this one and I love that! Other great books by Sharon Creech include Heartbeat, Love That Dog, Hate That Cat, Walk Two Moons, The Unfinished Angel, and The Wanderer. Sharon Creech tells you about this book in the video below.