Rating: 
Summary: Emotionally Compelling
Review: This book is masterfully written, and it is clear why it has won the Newberry Award. Although the overarching theme is predictable, the twists and turns that the plot takes to reach the conclusion are surprising and interesting. I couldn't put this book down.
Rating:
Summary: Turns out nice
Review: This book is what I would call a "story" book rather than an "adventure" book. It tells of past stories in their life while the two girls sit on the roof. I really like the way it ended. It seemed to wrap everything up together and explained some things. A bit slow, but a good "story" read.
Rating: 
Summary: Sigh...deep, and insightful!
Review: This book was so extremely meaningful to me. As I read this book, I nearly wept. To think of losing a sibling, especially at Baby's age, would be TERRIBLY heart breaking. The author of this book describes Willa Jo and Little Sister's emotions so well. This is a very deep book- and I recommed you drive to the nearest Barnes and Noble and get this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Too sentimental, essentially meaningless
Review: This book, about a family torn apart by a baby's death in the Depression is frankly, depressing. The entire book takes place on a rooftop with flashbacks making up most of the content. There is no particular reason to be on the roof it justs "feels like the right place to be" or something of the like. And in an attempt to be very profound the author attributes the cause of their rooftop venture as the family's way of "getting near to baby." Yes, that is the whole point of the novel. The exciting climax where the family actually talks on the roof is heartpounding and turbulent. If you can't detect my sarcasm by now, you are not educated enough to read this book. Well honestly this book is to touchy-feely, if that were ever thought possible and has no conflict or plot whatsoever. The moral learned from reading this is not to ever read a book by someone who lists their hobby as "making stone walls."
Rating:
Summary: A COMPASSIONATE READING
Review: This profound Newbery Honor Book bears revisiting, and it surely bears listening as the story reveals what it means to be a sister and the different forms that tragedy may take. Mischa Barton reads with compassionate understanding.Twelve-year-old Willa Jo and seven-year-old Little Sister have lost their baby sister. The child's sudden death has, of course, devastated their mother. Aunt Patty, who is not accustomed to having children in her home, takes the two girls thinking that mother needs some time alone to grieve and perhaps begin adjusting to her loss. What seems like a good and generous thought doesn't turn out very well for the girls as they miss their mother desperately, are grieving for their lost sister, and Aunt Patty has jillions of rules. In an effort to escape what seems to be an intolerable situation the girls climb onto the roof one morning to watch the sunrise. The problem is, following the sunrise Willa Jo can't bring herself to come down. After all, once she came down, how could she explain her unusual behavior? There is much for all to learn in this thoughtful recounting of a tragedy and the toll it takes.
Rating:
Summary: Family ties heal in odd ways
Review: This story of two little girls mourning the death of a baby sister while dealing with an odd and interesting assortment of family and friends uses lovely language and each scene engages the reader. Quiet, but moving. Worth reading for adults as well; my grown daughter picked it up when she ran out of reading matter, and laughed and cried before finishing it.
Rating:
Summary: Better the Second Time Around!
Review: When Willa Jo climbs on the roof of Aunt Patty's house to watch the sunrise, she discovers that although grief affects everyone differently, no one escapes the sadness that follows a death in the family. With cleverly-inserted flashbacks, Audrey Couloumbis tenderly describes how an extended family's relationships change as two sisters grieve the death of their baby sister. Sometimes stubborn and prickly, thirteen-year-old Willa Jo resolutely resists Aunt Patty's bossiness, her exacting household rules, and her well-intentioned but awkward attempts to care for Willa Jo and Little Sister. Only on her rooftop retreat, does Willa Jo begin to understand the bond that entwines her grief, sunrise memories, and the sisters' relationship with Aunt Patty and Uncle Hob. Getting Near to Baby explores family relationships with humor and sensitivity as it describes one family's struggle to find peace after a baby's death. More than a sensitive depiction of bereavement, this story explores the special closeness two sisters may share. I liked Willa Jo and found her narration believable, touching, and sometimes funny.
Rating:
Summary: tender, sweet story of a grieving family
Review: Willa Jo's loving care of Little Sister during their stay with Aunt Patty, while their mother takes time to recover from the sudden death of Baby, is very touching. Though Willa Jo's thoughts and words sometimes seem unrealistically mature for a 12-year-old, her profound wisdom realistically expresses the grief of this broken family. The author portrays her characters simply but by the end of the book you are very aware of Willa Jo's, Aunt Patty's, Uncle Hob's and others complexities by their very human acts. Little Sister only speaks once, on nearly the last page, her few simple words are achingly painful but also joyous and you know the family is starting to heal after Baby's tragic death. I enjoyed this book very much and think sensitive middle-schoolers would too.
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