Last Stop on Market Street Review by Allison Trippe
Bibliography
de la Peña, Matt. Last Stop on Market Street. Ill. by Christian Robinson. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2015. ISBN 978-0-605-85126-9
Plot Summary
CJ and his nana frequently ride the city bus together after church. He longs to be outside the confines of the bus, and questions his nana about why he doesn’t have the same things that other people do. He wants to be out playing like other boys his age. He wants to ride in a car like his friends. Like an old sage, his grandmother responds with wisdom and grace after each question he asks her. Through her natural and clever replies, she challenges him to take on other perspectives. By the time they reach their destination, she teaches him to see beauty in the plain, and to be gracious for what he has in his life.
CJ and his nana frequently ride the city bus together after church. He longs to be outside the confines of the bus, and questions his nana about why he doesn’t have the same things that other people do. He wants to be out playing like other boys his age. He wants to ride in a car like his friends. Like an old sage, his grandmother responds with wisdom and grace after each question he asks her. Through her natural and clever replies, she challenges him to take on other perspectives. By the time they reach their destination, she teaches him to see beauty in the plain, and to be gracious for what he has in his life.
Critical Analysis
Author Matt de la Peña tells this original story from the limited point of view of his main character. CJ is a curious, young boy growing up in a large city. Like any child, he wants to be like everyone else around him. Throughout the book, readers get to know CJ as he queries his nana. Nana, CJ’s grandmother, shares her view of the world by answering his questions with empathy and wisdom. De la Peña unfolds the order of events in the plot by paralleling the steps riders take when riding a bus. He weaves strong imagery throughout the story to help young readers build mental images.
The dialogue of the characters contain a vernacular that adds to the setting of the story. This, along with diverse characters, reflects the culture of a large city. Implicit themes of tolerance, gratitude, and service are subtly interlaced throughout the book. In her review, Nell Beram explains how the message of the story reaches audiences both young and old, “This quietly remarkable book will likely inspire questions of a sort less practical-minded than CJ’s; it will also have some adult readers reaching for a tissue (Beram 2015).”
By providing realistic visual details in the colorful illustrations, the reader understands the setting is a present-day bus ride. People on the bus dress in modern clothing, and carry electronic devices. The style of illustrations enhance the story by reminding the reader of the innocence of children. Each double-page spread helps advance the plot by showing a familiar experience of riding a bus. The order of events parallels the steps riders must take when riding a bus. Brushstrokes and texture provide contrast and boundaries. Many of the other characters are portrayed with ambiguity, making it easy for children to connect to them. Yet, without these illustrations, the message of the story is so strong that it could stand alone and transcend time. Conversely, the images alone could tell a similar, wordless story while maintaining the integrity of story’s themes.
By providing realistic visual details in the colorful illustrations, the reader understands the setting is a present-day bus ride. People on the bus dress in modern clothing, and carry electronic devices. The style of illustrations enhance the story by reminding the reader of the innocence of children. Each double-page spread helps advance the plot by showing a familiar experience of riding a bus. The order of events parallels the steps riders must take when riding a bus. Brushstrokes and texture provide contrast and boundaries. Many of the other characters are portrayed with ambiguity, making it easy for children to connect to them. Yet, without these illustrations, the message of the story is so strong that it could stand alone and transcend time. Conversely, the images alone could tell a similar, wordless story while maintaining the integrity of story’s themes.
Review Excerpts
After reading the book Last Stop on Market Street, readers will easily understand why it was selected as a winner in the following categories:
- 2016 Newbery Medal
- 2016 Caldecot Honor Award
- 2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award
From School Library Journal: “Poetic narration, radiant geometric-shaped artwork, and an authentic and enrichingly eye-opening representation of a diverse urban setting combine with out-and-out child appeal to make this tale a standout.”
From Publisher's Weekly: “Robinson’s paintings contribute to the story’s embrace of simplicity.”
Connections
- Teachers can use this book to support young readers with social skills, reading comprehension skills, and art appreciation.
- Writing prompts about relationships or defining beauty can follow a read aloud lesson.
- A bulletin board collage could display students’ accounts of helping others or how they volunteer in their community.
- Pairing a poem with this book, like an excerpt from William Wordsworth’s I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud, could be used to develop students’ awareness and understanding of imagery.
- Last Stop on Market Street would compliment reading lessons when teaching theme, character development, and point of view.
Reference
Beram, Nell. 2015. “Review of Last Stop on Market Street.” The Horn Book Magazine, March/April 2015. http://www.hbook.com/2015/03/choosing-books/review-of-the-week/review-of-last-stop-on-market-street/.
*Created as an assignment for a Texas Woman's University course.
*Created as an assignment for a Texas Woman's University course.
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