Up a Road Slowly

Irene Hunt's Up a Road Slowly is different from a lot of books that win the newberry medal.  In virtually every book I've read for this blog the main character is somewhere between the ages of 8 and 14.  The story takes place over a year or two of that  persons life and, if you are lucky, you get a glimpse of their future.  Up a Road Slowly is different.  In this book the reader experiences Julie's life from age 12 until she begins college.  The book chronicles the most formative decade in Julie's life.  What I love about this is that it shows growing up as it really is, up a road slowly.  

When she is still young Julie's uncle gives her this advice, "Accept the fact that this is a man's world and learn to play the game gracefully my sweet."  Up a Road Slowly won the Newberry in 1967.  Can you imagine someone giving a girl this piece of advice today?  It is amazing to me as I read these older books they way society has changed in just the past few decades.  Even though women have more power in today's world there still are games that need to be played and I think we can learn a lot by playing the game gracefully.  

Another thing I loved about this book was that because it chronicled Julie into young adulthood there were things that I could relate to in my current life and not just remember from my childhood.  And the things that speak to me now are universal truths.  Take this quote from when Julie first falls in love, "That was the moment of my greatest security and confidence; it was the time when I realized that love makes one a better person, a kinder, and a gentler person."  I LOVE that!  The best kind of love changes you for the better and it was such a sweet moment in the book when Julie finally experiences that love and through it views her entire childhood differently and manages to get some closure.

Love that makes you better, kinder, and gentler...that's kids stuff.