In E.B. White's Charlotte's
Web, a small spider who seems to have little effect on the world brings
much joy to a pig named Wilbur who doesn't want to be served for Christmas
dinner. This story isn't new to me. I grew up watching the animated film on
VHS. However, I never read the book. I knew that reading it now would be a perfect
opportunity.
Charlotte's Web was everything I
expected it to be. I won't go into what
it is about because I doubt there is anyone who hasn't heard the story! It has been said that it is the best
children's novel ever. To start off, I
loved the beginning of the story. Right
away my throat began to tighten and tears formed in my eyes as I read about
Fern rescuing poor baby Wilbur from being killed for being the runt of his
litter! That is such a powerful way to
begin a book! I also love that Charlotte is a spider because spiders are, to me, gross
and disgusting and scary yet Charlotte
was more than that. Charlotte was smart and kind and one of the
greatest friends a person (or a pig) could ask for! Sure she caught her food in a web and drank
their blood but she also saved Wilbur's life!
No one is what you expect them to be.
People, and spiders, surprise me everyday! There was only one thing I didn't like about
the novel and that was Fern at the end.
In the beginning she was a girl who was different; she was a girl who
talked to animals and lived away from what was expected of her. Then she became a girl who only wanted to
hang out with a guy and she suddenly forgot everything that had mattered to her
before. I wish White would have let Fern
make a difference rather than blending in with the crowd at the end.
Anyway,
this was a short review. I give Charlotte's Web 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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