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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Funny, heartfelt, and overall, a great book with realistic characters- if not, necessarily, realistic situations
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Again another phenomenal book by this author. Not my favorite but still good! Deals with big issues but directed at kids.
Loved the England Vs America theme throughout.
Loved the England Vs America theme throughout.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Carter Jones is a middle school boy who is struggling finding his place amongst his family that is falling apart. One day a butler appears at the family’s door and despite his best attempts Carter learns many life lessons from the Butler. There is a lot of cricket descriptions in this book, but I loved the family story and how Carter learned to be a “gentleman” by paying attention and remembering who he was and who loved him.
This wasn't my favorite book, but I get it. I wasn't personally into, but it's deserving of all the buzz for the intended readers.
I skipped through all the cricket portions, but the personal issues and character relations were engaging and meaningful.
I skipped through all the cricket portions, but the personal issues and character relations were engaging and meaningful.
Such a good book. Written from Carter Jones's perspective. Carter Jones is starting sixth grade in Marysville, NY. As he and his three sisters are getting ready for their first day of school, he answers the door and finds a butler standing at his door. The butler refuses to leave, and Carter is unsure of what to do at this point. As Carter's family begins to accept the butler, Carter begins to realize the challenges he must deal with in his life and the butler helps him navigate these challenges of grief and anger. Some difficult issues discussed in a humorously insightful story.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
This isn't on the level of The Wednesday Wars or Okay For Now but it was still good.
Some aspects of it were a lil ridiculous... Or shall we say, lacking verisimilitude. But I still liked the butler.
I do feel the interwoven flashback sequence during the climax was too hard/unclear for a child reader (ie the book's targeted audience) to understand.
Also, although the book is supposedly set sometime in the 2010s, it feels very much earlier than that. (Where are the cell phones, internet references, etc)
And I still don't understand cricket at all...
Buuuuut in the end it still hit me in the feels so take my 4 stars Gary D Schmidt!!!
This isn't on the level of The Wednesday Wars or Okay For Now but it was still good.
Some aspects of it were a lil ridiculous... Or shall we say, lacking verisimilitude. But I still liked the butler.
I do feel the interwoven flashback sequence during the climax was too hard/unclear for a child reader (ie the book's targeted audience) to understand.
Also, although the book is supposedly set sometime in the 2010s, it feels very much earlier than that. (Where are the cell phones, internet references, etc)
And I still don't understand cricket at all...
Buuuuut in the end it still hit me in the feels so take my 4 stars Gary D Schmidt!!!
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Well done!
The voice alone is worth the read. But Schmidt weaves his characters into a plot that's as engaging as his protagonists; and the inextricable intertwining of the two is the definition of good story.
The voice alone is worth the read. But Schmidt weaves his characters into a plot that's as engaging as his protagonists; and the inextricable intertwining of the two is the definition of good story.