The View from Saturday facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | E. L. Konigsburg |
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| Cover artist | E. L. Konigsburg |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Atheneum Books |
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Publication date
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1996 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover & paperback) |
| Pages | 160 (first, hard) |
| ISBN | 0-689-80993-X (first edition, soft) |
| OCLC | 33983334 |
| LC Class | PZ7.K8352 Vi 1996 |
The View from Saturday is an exciting children's book written by E. L. Konigsburg. It was published in 1996. This book won the famous Newbery Medal in 1997. This was the second time the author, E. L. Konigsburg, won this special award for her amazing stories.
Contents
How the Story is Told
The story in The View from Saturday is like a puzzle. It switches between different viewpoints. Sometimes, one of the four main students tells their part of the story. This is called a first-person view. Other times, the story is told by someone who knows everything. This is called a third-person view.
The author, E. L. Konigsburg, wanted readers to enjoy putting the pieces together. She hoped that readers would feel proud when they figured out how all the stories connected. Even though it's not a mystery book, it has many small puzzles to solve.
What the Story is About
This book is about a middle school teacher named Mrs. Eva Marie Olinski. She returns to teaching after an accident. She chooses four special sixth-grade students. Their names are Ethan, Noah, Nadia, and Julian. They form a team called 'The Souls'.
The Academic Bowl Competition
'The Souls' represent their class in an exciting competition called the Academic Bowl. They are very good and win against other sixth-grade teams. Then they beat the seventh- and eighth-grade champions. They keep winning until they become the middle school champions for New York state.
The children also help their teacher, Mrs. Olinski. They help her feel happier and more confident. Another student, Hamilton Knapp, tries to cause trouble for Mrs. Olinski. But 'The Souls' show their support for her. They stand up for her when Hamilton and his friend bother the class.
The Students' Stories
Between the chapters about the competition, each of the four students tells their own story. These stories are important for understanding 'The Souls' team. They also help answer questions in the state championship final.
- Noah Gershom shares how he learned calligraphy. He also talks about being the best man at a wedding in Florida.
- Nadia Diamondstein tells about her work helping to save sea turtles. She also describes meeting Ethan in Century Village.
- Ethan Potter explains how he met Julian, a new boy in town. He talks about attending Julian's special tea parties. This is how 'The Souls' became good friends.
- Julian Singh describes being new at school. He shares how he handled a chance to get back at a bully. His story even includes Nadia's dog in the school musical.
Meet the Characters
Mrs. Eva Marie Olinski
Mrs. Olinski is a teacher at Epiphany Middle School. She was in a car accident and uses a wheelchair. She feels that her students have changed over the years. 'The Souls' team helps her regain her confidence as a teacher. For a long time, she doesn't know why she picked them. But with help from a friend, she finally understands.
Noah Gershom
Noah has brown hair and wears glasses. His mom sells houses, and his dad is a dentist. Noah's story takes place when he visits his grandparents in Florida. He learns calligraphy and becomes the best man at a wedding. Noah is usually good at finding answers and being a leader. But he learns that a team wins by working together.
Nadia Diamondstein
Nadia is a pretty girl with curly red hair. It looks like a halo in the sunlight. She recently moved to New York from Florida with her mom. Her mom works for Noah's dad. Nadia's grandfather married Ethan's grandmother. Nadia loves sea turtles. Her dog, Ginger, plays a part in the school play.
Ethan Potter
Ethan is a medium-sized boy with short, blond hair. He lives on a farm. His family is one of the oldest in Epiphany. His grandmother recently married Nadia's grandfather. Ethan often feels like he disappoints his teachers. They compare him to his older brother, Lucas, who is good at everything. Ethan is quiet and nervous until he joins 'The Souls'. He loves theater and has a secret interest in halos.
Julian Singh
Julian is an Indian boy with black hair and a British accent. He got his accent from going to a boarding school in England. His mother was a singer who passed away young. His father is a cook and now runs a bed and breakfast inn. Julian hosts tea parties every Saturday for 'The Souls'. He was teased by other students because he was new and from a different culture. Julian always tries to make the best of things. He is the last person Mrs. Olinski chooses for the quiz team.
Hamilton Knapp
Hamilton Knapp is a student who causes problems in the story. He wrote something inappropriate on Julian Singh's backpack. Hamilton almost became the fourth member of the academic bowl team. He also tried to cause trouble for Nadia's dog, Ginger, during the school play.
E. L. Konigsburg said that her characters start as people she might know. But they become unique characters in her books. She believes the friendship of 'The Souls' is special but real. She feels she has something in common with each of them.
How the Book Was Created
Konigsburg first started writing about Ethan Potter's school bus ride. A new boy, Julian, sat next to him and talked about his dad opening a bed-and-breakfast.
Later, she remembered three other stories she had written. One was about a boy named Noah. Another was about a dog named Ginger in a play. The third was about an Academic Bowl team. She realized these stories could fit together. She thought that combining them would make the whole story even better. She knew kids would enjoy meeting each character and seeing how their stories connected.
