BOOK BRIEF

Toning the Sweep

Angela Johnson
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Toning the Sweep

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1994

Book Brief

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Angela Johnson

Toning the Sweep

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1994
Book Details
Pages

112

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Mojave Desert, California • 1990s

Theme
Publication Year

1994

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12-16 years

Lexile Level

760L

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Super Short Summary

Toning the Sweep by Angela Johnson follows a young person named Emily who visits her grandmother, Ola, in the Mojave Desert. As they prepare for Ola's relocation due to illness, Emily learns about her family's history and heritage through stories, deepening her connection with her roots and understanding the importance of memory and storytelling.

Contemplative

Emotional

Bittersweet

Nostalgic

Reviews & Readership

4.0

492 ratings

63%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Toning the Sweep by Angela Johnson is praised for its lyrical prose and emotional depth, capturing the nuances of family and intergenerational relationships. Readers appreciate the strong female characters and the exploration of grief and healing. However, some find the narrative pacing uneven. Overall, it's a poignant and thoughtful read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Toning the Sweep?

A reader who enjoys Toning the Sweep by Angela Johnson would likely appreciate character-driven narratives exploring themes of family, grief, and coming-of-age. Fans of To Kill a Mockingbird and The House on Mango Street might find similar emotional depth and cultural exploration in Johnson's work.

4.0

492 ratings

63%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

112

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Mojave Desert, California • 1990s

Theme
Publication Year

1994

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12-16 years

Lexile Level

760L

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